Tilak Verma Sets Record for Most Catches in a Calendar Year During T20 Match Against New Zealand
Tilak Verma breaks the record for most catches in a calendar year in T20 cricket during a match against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Christchurch, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : The second T20 International match between India and New Zealand is taking place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Indian T20 team vice-captain Tilak Verma made headlines by achieving a remarkable milestone during the game, catching two crucial wickets.
Verma has now become the player with the most catches in a calendar year in T20 International cricket, surpassing Indonesia’s Danilson Havo, who previously held the record with 25 catches. Verma’s tally for 2026 now stands at 26 catches, one more than Havo’s record set in 2025.
Before the match, Verma needed to catch two more balls to reach this milestone. He successfully caught the wickets of Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell. His first catch was a straightforward one off Seifert, who mishit a ball from Arshdeep Singh.
Verma then caught Daryl Mitchell’s edge, which flew behind him off the bat. This catch also marked the first wicket for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned to the Indian team after four years.
Here’s a look at the top catchers in T20 International cricket in a calendar year:
– 26 – Tilak Verma (India) – 2026
– 25 – Danilson Havo (Indonesia) – 2025
– 24 – Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – 2024
– 21 – Sharvin Muniyandi (Malaysia) – 2025
– 20 – Brian Masaba (Uganda) – 2023
– 20 – Tanzid Hasan (Bangladesh) – 2025
In 2026, Verma has been India’s most reliable fielder, and this achievement underscores his skill. He has taken 26 catches in 30 innings this season. In the match against New Zealand, India opted to bowl first. New Zealand scored 180 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs, with Glenn Phillips leading the charge with a powerful 70 runs off 43 balls, and Bevan Jacobs contributing 58 runs from 46 balls. Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India, claiming two wickets.
