IPL 2026 | 'Not just athleticism, but awareness': Sachin Tendulkar applauds Iyer's boundary catch

Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the “God of Cricket,” heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer after his sensational boundary catch during the IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer produced a breathtaking effort in the field that left fans and even opposition players in awe. The Mumbai Indians dugout, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, were visibly stunned as they watched the moment unfold. The incident occurred in the 18th over when Hardik Pandya launched Marco Jansen’s delivery towards long-on.

What followed was extraordinary. Sprinting swiftly to his left, Iyer tracked the ball perfectly near the boundary rope. Realising he was about to lose balance, he showcased exceptional presence of mind, catching the ball mid-air with a reverse cup and flicking it back into play just before crossing the boundary. Xavier Bartlett completed the catch, but it was entirely Iyer’s brilliance that made the dismissal possible. He celebrated in style as the crowd erupted.

Tendulkar’s High Praise

The stunning effort quickly went viral, drawing admiration across social media. Sachin Tendulkar was among the first to applaud the effort, highlighting not just the athleticism but the intelligence behind the moment.

“What made Shreyas Iyer’s catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it. He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect.”

“Then, while still in the air, he caught the ball and released it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a split second takes unbelievable awareness, timing, fitness, and composure.”