Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer for his stunning relay catch during the Indian Premier League 2026 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, calling it “one of the best catches” he has ever seen live.
The remarkable moment came on the third ball of the 18th over when MI skipper Hardik Pandya looked set to clear the boundary off Marco Jansen. Sprinting in from long-on, Iyer timed his leap to perfection, reverse-cupped the ball mid-air and, while still airborne, flicked it to Xavier Bartlett, who completed the catch just inside the boundary rope.
Replays confirmed that Iyer released the ball at the perfect moment, turning what seemed a certain six into a crucial wicket for Punjab Kings.
Taking to social media, Tendulkar highlighted that the brilliance of the effort lay not just in athleticism but in Iyer’s awareness and decision-making. He noted that judging the ball’s trajectory, maintaining balance near the rope and executing a mid-air relay with precision required exceptional composure and timing.
The moment proved pivotal as Punjab Kings went on to dominate the contest.
Batting first, Mumbai Indians posted 195/6, powered by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112 off 60 balls and a solid contribution from Naman Dhir, who scored 50. Arshdeep Singh led PBKS’ bowling effort with figures of 3/22 and was named Player of the Match.
In reply, Punjab Kings chased down the target in just 16.3 overs, finishing at 198/3. Prabhsimran Singh starred with an unbeaten 80, while Iyer added a fluent 66, stitching together a match-winning partnership.
With the win, Punjab Kings moved to the top of the points table, while Mumbai Indians slipped to ninth, continuing their poor run in the tournament.
