NEW DELHI
Legendary South African fielder Jonty Rhodes has hailed Shreyas Iyer’s recent boundary heroics as a sign of how much cricket has evolved. During a recent IPL match, the Punjab Kings captain pulled off a stunning “catch-and-release” move to dismiss Hardik Pandya, leaving icons like Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar in absolute awe.
Rhodes, long considered the gold standard for athleticism, took to social media to share his admiration. He joked that while he previously felt like the “father of fielding,” watching modern athletes like Iyer makes him feel like the “grandfather.” He noted that during his playing days, ninety-nine percent of his time was spent in the inner circle. As of now, the focus has shifted to the boundary ropes, where players perform “airborne saves” to turn certain sixes into wickets.
The Proteas legend credited the shift in standards to pioneers like Kieron Pollard and Glenn Maxwell, who redefined what is possible on the edge of the field. Rhodes emphasized that in the high-scoring era of “Impact Players,” bowlers desperately need this kind of support. He also pointed out that with a fielding great like Ricky Ponting as the head coach, such spectacular efforts from the Punjab squad are no accident. For Rhodes, Iyer’s catch wasn’t just a great play, it was a masterclass in timing and awareness. It proved that the modern game has reached a level of physical excellence that even the masters of the past find breathtaking to watch.