IPL 2026 batters dominate after multiple dropped catches this season

IPL 2026 batters are capitalizing on dropped catches more than ever, turning reprieves into match-winning performances.

This season's catching trends The most catches missed in a single IPL day since 2018 were recorded recently, but the catching efficiency this season remains near the average. After 41 matches, 382 of 476 catching chances were held, translating to 80.25% efficiency. This places the season at the median point among the last nine years, with 2025 being the worst at 75.89% after the same number of games. ## History-making reprieves and big scores Two notable reprieves this season led to record-breaking innings. KL Rahul was dropped early against PBKS and went on to score 140 more runs in 60 balls, the highest post-drop contribution by any batter since 2018. Virat Kohli was similarly dropped off the third ball against Gujarat Titans and finished with a match-winning 81. Five of the nine centuries scored in 2026 came after batters were reprieved at least once. ## Conversion rates hitting new highs Batters are making opponents pay for errors more than ever this season. Out of 81 instances where a batter was dropped on their first chance, they went on to score 40 or more runs 20 times—nearly one in four reprieves. This conversion rate of 24.69% surpasses all previous seasons, with 2019 trailing at 20.25%. In 11 of those 20 innings, batters added 50 or more runs, another season-high. ## Median cost of dropped catches spikes The median runs scored by batters after their first dropped chance this season is 17, the highest among all seasons since 2018 after 41 matches. This means that in 40 of 81 reprieves, batters went on to score 17 or more runs. The previous high was in 2019, where the median stood at just 11, six runs lower than 2026. The trend highlights how costly fielding lapses have become. ## Fielding errors costing teams dearly Dropped catches are costing teams more than in recent years. In 14 of 18 innings where a batter was reprieved to score 40 or more, the fielding side ended up losing the match. The win-loss ratio for fielding teams in such cases is 0.29, the worst since 2018. Delhi Capitals have suffered the most, losing three games where reprieved batters made match-winning contributions. ## Notable losses linked to dropped catches Delhi Capitals dropped Sanju Samson against Chennai Super Kings after he was reprieved, and he went on to score a century before helping his team win. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, DC let off Abhishek Sharma, who then hit an unbeaten 135 to guide his side to victory. Punjab Kings experienced the highest successful chase in T20 history after dropping two top scorers, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer, who combined for 106 runs. ## Teams with the most costly lapses Delhi Capitals have been the worst catching side this season, missing nearly a third of chances and falling below 70% efficiency. They are the only team below this threshold. Punjab Kings, despite leading the points table, have the second-worst catching record but have avoided dropping catches that directly influenced match outcomes. Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans have also lost games due to reprieved batters adding 40-plus. ## Batters thriving after reprieves Five batters have scored 40 or more runs in an innings more than once after being dropped: KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh, and Abhishek Sharma. All five are among the top six run-scorers after 41 matches. Four of these batters represent teams currently at the top of the points table, with Rahul being the exception; his team, Delhi Capitals, has been plagued by costly catching errors.