Tilak Varma breaks world report for many catches in a calendar year in T20Is

India vice-captain Tilak Varma set a world report for the most catches by an outfielder in a calendar year in males’s T20Is during the second T20I in opposition to New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday. Varma took catches to dismiss Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell, taking his tally to 26 in 32 matches in 2026.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl on the same pitch used for the series opener at Hagley Oval. New Zealand misplaced three wickets for simply 41 runs in 5.2 overs. Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs then shared a 116-run fourth-wicket stand to assist the hosts submit a good whole of 180/5.

Tilak Varma Creates History During India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I

Tilak Varma reached the milestone within the first three overs of New Zealand’s innings. He caught opener Tim Seifert off Arshdeep Singh earlier than taking Daryl Mitchell’s catch off <a href="https://cricket.worldwide/watch-bhuvneshwar-kumar-ends-1434-day-wait-for-international-wicket-cleans-up-daryl-mitchell/" title="Watch: Bhuvneshwar Kumar ends 1,434-day look ahead to worldwide wicket, cleans up Daryl Mitchell”>Bhuvneshwar Kumar to surpass the previous benchmark.

His 26 catches in 32 matches put him forward of Indonesia’s Danilson Hawoe, who took 25 catches in 41 matches in 2025.

Most catches in a calendar year in T20Is (outfielders)

Tilak Varma’s Key Catches Throughout the 2026 Schedule

Tilak Varma missed India’s five-match home T20I series in opposition to New Zealand in January because of an damage. After regaining health, he returned for the T20 World Cup and took two catches in India’s opening match in opposition to america at Wankhede Stadium.

He continued to contribute in the discipline during the match, taking one catch each in opposition to Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and England. Within the March 8 last in opposition to New Zealand in Ahmedabad, he claimed two catches, together with the dismissal of Jacob Duffy that sealed the match’s last wicket.

After the World Cup, he took three catches in the second away T20I in opposition to Afghanistan in Delhi on September 15. He additionally caught Finn Allen near the boundary during the opening match of the ongoing New Zealand series.

Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs Rescue New Zealand

India’s tempo attack made an early influence in Christchurch. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Seifert for seven, whereas Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Mitchell for six. Prince Yadav then bowled Allen for 16 in the last over of the fielding restrictions, leaving New Zealand underneath strain.

Glenn Phillips steadied the innings with 70 off 43 balls. He shared a crucial 116-run fourth-wicket partnership with Bevon Jacobs, who scored 50 off 40 deliveries to assist the hosts get well.

Michael Bracewell added late boundaries to take New Zealand to 180/5. Arshdeep was India’s leading wicket-taker with 2/33, whereas Bhuvneshwar, Prince and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one wicket each.

India made two modifications to their lineup for the match. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replaced the injured Ishan Kishan and moved into the number-three place, whereas Prince got here in for Mayank Yadav. New Zealand made one change to their bowling attack, bringing in Duffy for Adam Milne.

Supply: cricketaddictor.com