With each passing season, IPL has seen standards raised, more runs scored and more innovative and inventive ways to win matches. However, fielding standards are at an all-time low, with more catches being dropped regularly. IPL 2025 has already seen more than a century of catches put down, and it is only a little over half of the season done. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are the worst offenders, and unsurprisingly find themselves at the bottom of the table.
CSK, RR worst offenders as catching efficiency drops in IPL 2025
Catches win matches. For CSK and RR, they have found that out the hard way. Rooted to the bottom of the IPL 2025 standings, the finalists of the 2008 IPL have struggled with a classic case of butter fingers. CSK, who have just 2 wins all season, have a catching efficiency of just 64.3% as per ESPNCricinfo. To put it in simple numbers, the MS Dhoni-led side take less than 3 of their four chances.
Once boasting the likes of Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis on the field, CSK now have Vijay Shankar, who has dropped 3 of the 5 chances he’s received. Their case of poor fielding was evident in their loss to Punjab Kings, where Priyansh Arya survived three chances to smash a record century.
Rajasthan Royals do only a little better, with a 70.5% catching accuracy so far in IPL 2025. Riyan Parag was guilty of dropping Virat Kohli on 2 in their last game. Virat went onto score a matching 73, hurting Royals chances of picking up a much-needed win.
Worst fielding teams in IPL 2025 (catching efficiency %)
- CSK – 64.3%
- RR – 70.5 %
- DC- 71.4 %
- LSG – 73.9%
- GT – 77.4%
Overall, 103 catches have been dropped so far from a total of 431 chances in the field. Which means roughly one in every four catches is dropped, making it the worst in the last five years. Over the years, the numbers have consistently declined, with two matches seeing 9 catches spilt this season. For context, in IPL 2021, the catching efficiency of teams was at an impressive 85.5%.
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