Indian cricketer
The milestone moment arrived early in the contest as Varma showcased his sharp reflexes in the opening three overs of the New Zealand innings. By safely pouching the deliveries to dismiss Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell, Varma elevated his tally for 2026 to 26 catches. This performance officially moved him past the previous record-holder, Indonesia’s Danilson Hawoe, who had recorded 25 catches throughout 2025.
A Record-Breaking Display in New Delhi
The match, which saw India elect to bowl first after winning the toss, provided the perfect stage for Varma to cement his place in the history of T20I cricket. His achievement highlights a prolific year in the field, placing him ahead of other notable international performers such as UAE’s Muhammad Waseem, who managed 24 catches in 2024, and Malaysia’s Sharvin Muniandy, who recorded 21 in 2025.
Beyond the individual record, the second T20I featured several adjustments to the team lineups. India opted for two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to replace the injured Ishan Kishan, while Prince Yadav was drafted into the side for Mayank Yadav. New Zealand also looked to bolster their ranks, introducing Jacob Duffy into the starting lineup in place of Adam Milne.
The Indian side for the encounter featured Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, captain Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav. New Zealand’s XI was comprised of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, captain Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Lockie Ferguson.
