Data Shorts: Dropped catches cost CSK dearly against PBKS

"With the team we picked, we knew the kind of fielding we will do. But what is more disappointing is that the guys are not aware on the field. Your speed might not be too much but you have to be attentive in the field", a pensive MS Dhoni remarked after a defeat at Eden Gardens during their victorious IPL 2018 campaign. Each of CSK's 16 matches that season they fielded an XI whose average age was 30+ but yet they finished third in terms of catching efficiency (catches taken/chances created), though they made the most number of misfields (33).

The pattern of them fielding XIs with average age north of 30 has continued since, and only four times out of 112 games have the average age of their playing XI been under 30 (two of those by less than a fortnight). While older age is by no means a direct measurement of how good one is or isn't with his fielding abilities, it does contribute a meaningful part in majority of the players.

Come IPL 2025, CSK sits at the bottom of dropped catches and their catching efficiency is only above their most recent opponent who put down four catches in the night.

The overall catch efficiency of the league in the 2022-24 cycle was 80.3% and several of CSK fielders from the current squad were well below this threshold. While Ashwin was just a few points below the threshold, Jadeja, Hooda, Sam Curran were in the high 70s. The likes of Tripathi and Mukesh stayed in the 60s while Khaleel was a red flag with just 25%, the worst in the league. Not surprisingly, all of those in the above list bar Jadeja and Curran (who hasn't played since the second match) have dropped at leastone catch each this season.

The dropped catches have hurt CSK big time with each of the Player of the Match winners in their four defeats against them getting dropped, three of them early on in their innings. Patidar was dropped on 17, 19, and 20 and he went to make 51 at Chepauk. Nitish Rana's top edge burst through Khaleel's hands, and he added another 70 from his next 28 balls. Priyansh Arya was put down off his second ball, a relatively tough caught and bowled chance, and then again on 35. It was followed by Mukesh Choudhary catching him on the boundary but the fielder's shoes were touching the boundary cushions. It needs to be also asked why the likes of Choudhary and Noor Ahmad were patrolling the deep straight boundaries for much of tonight's game.

Skipper Gaikwad attested the same in his post match interview, "In the last four games, that is the only point of difference. It has been very critical. Every time we are dropping the catch, the same batter is adding 20-25-30 runs extra."

"Told the guys we have to enjoy the fielding. If you are nervous, you will drop some catches. If you look to be a standout fielder, the first catch taken, the first boundary saved helps everyone. Batting and bowling, you can have a bad day, but in fielding, that is something we are trying to work on, but right now, it is not happening." The batting and bowling troubles aplenty in the CSK camp, fielding is one thing that they will hope to get right sooner than later.