IPL 2025: We were victim to a match-winning catch, admits Stephen Fleming after loss against SRH

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted they were victim to a match-winning catch after five-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Friday.

Dewald Brevis, playing his maiden match for CSK, got off to a slow start, scoring at run-a-ball 17. However, the young South African was able to flip the switch and smashed three sixes against Kamindu Mendis in an over.

But Brevis’ knock was put paid at 42 by a brilliant catch from Mendis, who dived to his left to grab a stunner at mid-off.

“I thought Brevis was outstanding. We were probably victim to a match-winning catch,” the CSK head coach said after their fourth consecutive defeat at Chepauk.

“Look, I think it’s just instinct,” SRH head coach Daniel Vettori said of the catch. “It’s an innate ability to be able to move, to see the ball and time you’re diving. So it’s probably one of those catches that even a brilliant fielder only has one or two in their career.

Meanwhile, both Chennai and Hyderabad were desperate for the win after managing only two wins in eight games.

“It was going well. That was an outstanding catch,” Fleming said. “We had Riyan Parag in a game at Guwahati who took a great catch as well. So a couple of key moments there that they earned and did well. But then it was two teams that were nervous about winning, going hammer and tongs on a tough wicket. It was tough to watch.”

SRH head coach Daniel Vettori showered praise on Mendis, who took a game-changing catch as Brevis was looking good to take CSK to a par score. Mendis also scored an unbeaten 32 off just 22 balls to take SRH over the line.

“Special moment, that catch, but more importantly for us, it was the moment in the game where Brevis was starting to take control, putting a lot of pressure back on us,” Vettori said. “And if he’d stayed in, probably the score would have gotten away from us and it would have been a difficult chase.

“Even during our bowling innings, there were some times where we felt dew was becoming an issue. I think you saw Zeeshan wiping the ball. So to get through that, and particularly to break that partnership. Brevis was looking fantastic, took the game on and started to show what you could do on that surface when you put pressure back on bowlers. So the catch by Kamindu and then the bowling to follow that up, I think that led to the ability to restrict that score.”

Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.