Tilak Varma Becomes Fifth Indian Fielder to 50 T20I Catches, With India's Best Dismissals-per-Innings Rate
Tilak Varma Enters India's Elite Fielding Club
India vice-captain Tilak Varma became only the fifth Indian fielder to complete 50 catches in T20Is during Sunday's third T20I against West Indies in Indore, joining an elite list featuring Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli.
What makes the milestone particularly impressive is the efficiency with which Tilak has reached it. His 50 catches have come in just 68 T20I appearances, giving him a dismissals-per-innings ratio of 0.757 — the best among Indian fielders with at least 50 outfield catches in the format.
Only One Player in World Cricket Ahead of Him
Globally, Tilak's ratio is second only to the United Arab Emirates' Muhammad Waseem, who has taken 76 catches in 99 outings at a ratio of 0.767. Among the 34 players to have taken at least 50 outfield catches in men's T20Is, only Waseem has a better ratio.
Reaching the milestone in just 68 appearances underlines Tilak's contribution in the field, with his catches-per-innings record placing him among the most efficient outfielders in men's T20I cricket.
India's Leading Catchers in T20Is
- Rohit Sharma — 65 catches
- Hardik Pandya — 64 catches
- Suryakumar Yadav — 58 catches
- Virat Kohli — 54 catches
- Tilak Varma — 50 catches
A Milestone Overshadowed by a Bizarre Dismissal
The fielding landmark arrived during a match in which Tilak was also involved in one of the most unusual dismissals seen in international cricket, run out after a fist-bump mix-up with Axar Patel. He still finished with 28 off 16 balls, including four boundaries, while India powered to 223 and beat West Indies by 14 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.