Michael Vaughan lauds "greatest catch ever" as fans astonished by kung fu move

13 February 2023 , 10:10

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Fielder Kiran Tarlekar kung fu kicked the ball to a teammate to pull off a stunning catch (Image: Twitter/@cricketdistrict)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has hailed a stunning boundary effort as the "greatest catch of all time" after the fielder kung fu kicked the ball back into play.

During the Shree Chashak district tennis ball tournament in Belgaum, Karnataka, Kiran Tarlekar showed off his football skills in a match between SRS Hindustan and Sairaj A. After the ball was smashed towards the boundary, Tarlekar launched himself in the air to take the initial catch.

However, after landing he found himself off balance and had to throw the ball back up in the air to prevent it from going for six. While the ball was in the air, Tarlekar regained his balance and then produced an outrageous piece of skill as he kicked the ball back into play while making sure he was not touching the ground.

Another fielder then ran in and took the catch, with the effort going viral on social media and earning Tarlekar plenty of plaudits across the world of cricket. "Surely the greatest catch of all time …", tweeted Vaughan.

India legend Sachin Tendulkar also weighed in, writing: "This is what happens when you bring a guy who also knows how to play football!!" Former England spinner turned coach Min Patel added: "WOW!! Outstanding".

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Ex-Pakistan international Atiq-uz-Zaman wrote: "Lol this is a different level". New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham added: "Absolutely outstanding.

While Australia spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington simply wrote: "Wait what?!?" Tarlekar's effort comes after another stunning boundary catch taken earlier this year by Michael Neser in the Big Bash League prompted debate over the laws.

Neser initially took the catch inside the boundary rope before throwing it up in the air and then keeping the ball alive by flicking it back into play where he completed the catch. Like Tarlekar, Neser was clearly over the boundary rope but because the ball never touched the ground and he was in the air when touching the ball then the catch counts according to the Laws of Cricket.

Law 19.5 clarifies: "A fielder who is not in contact with the ground is considered to be grounded beyond the boundary if his/her final contact with the ground, before his/her first contact with the ball after it has been delivered by the bowler, was not entirely within the boundary."

Matthew Cooper