Picture Credit: X/IPL
I n match 54 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) hosted the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, May 5. After being invited to bat first, the KKR posted 235 runs on the board in their stipulated 20 overs.
During the KKR innings, the Lucknow-based franchise saw some disappointing fielding efforts, which also left their Fielding Coach and one of the greatest fielders of the game of cricket, Jonty Rhodes disappointed. But during the LSG inning, a brilliant catch by a ball boy got Rhodes' attention.
The incident occurred in the third over of the LSG inning. Vaibhav Arora, the KKR bowler delivered a wide short-pitched delivery, which Marcus Stoinis cut over the third-man region. As the ball carried full over the boundary the ball boy, named Atharw took a good catch.
Seeing this, Jonty Rhodes could not control, but applauded the youngster. Even the on-air commentators promptly acknowledged the remarkable effort of this young talent.
Watch Jonty Rhodes react promptly to ball boy’s reflex action:
Stay focused on the ball, you’ll excel: Jonty Rhode to Atharw
After the KKR’s 98-run win over LSG, reckoned as one of the finest fielders in the world, Jonty Rhodes took a moment to interact with the ball boy. Rhodes took a moment to share some valuable advice for the youngster on the sidelines of the game. “That catch was remarkable. Stay focused on the ball, and you’ll excel,” Rhodes said.
Watch Jonty Rhodes' interaction with young ball boy:
Speaking of the match, the home team was hammered by the Shreyas Iyer-led KKR at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. After being invited to bat first, KKR posted 235 runs on the board, breaching the 200-run mark for the first time in Lucknow in IPL.
However, this total was enough for the Kolkata-based franchise to take home the victory and consolidate their position at the top of the points table. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Lucknow were restricted to 137 in 16.1 overs and eventually fell short by 98 runs. With their fifth loss, the KL Rahul-led side slipped to fifth place in the IPL 2024 standings.
