Watch: Comedy of errors on show as Ajinkya Rahane spills easy catch in KKR v MI game

Usually safe and sound on the field, Ajinkya Rahane let go of an easy catch in the KKR v MI IPL 2022 game on Wednesday (April 6). 

Playing against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Pune, Rahane misjudged a catch of opposition batter Tilak Verma after asking glover Sam Billings to wait even as it would’ve been a much easier take for the KKR wicketkeeper. 

Billings was left bemused by his teammate’s untimely call of ‘mine’ for the catch, especially after he then went on to drop the ball and gave Verma a shocking reprieve. 

Top-edging a delivery from KKR quick Umesh Yadav, Verma looked gone for all money with Billings circling underneath the ball. But to everyone’s disbelief, he was able to resume his innings after a very bad error from Ajinkya Rahane. 

Ajinkya Rahane gives Tilak Verma an unlikely reprieve in the KKR v MI game in IPL 2022

pic.twitter.com/pLOIEvBf37

— Peep (@Peep00470121) April 6, 2022

The incident is from the third ball of the 13th over in MI’s innings. Facing a short-pitched delivery from Umesh, Verma went deep inside his crease and unleashed a pull shot on the move. But the left-hander could only miscue his attempted stroke and looped the ball in the air. 

At that point, with Billings right underneath the ball, a straightforward dismissal looked on the cards. But suddenly, out of nowhere, close-in fielder Ajinkya Rahane came into the picture and asked Billings to wait while he himself goes for the catch. 

However, the Indian veteran failed to properly get under the ball and shelved it, letting go the easiest of opportunities to earn his team a breakthrough. 

Seeing Rahane call ‘mine’ with his hands, even Billings started to relax and slowed down on his way. But to his and KKR’s great disappointment, one of their better fielders failed to make a clean grab and gave the MI batter a reprieve. 

With MI 60/3, another wicket at that point would’ve given KKR a foot in the victory door, especially as Verma posed a decent challenge in partnership with comeback man Suryakumar Yadav. 

One of the exciting young players at this year’s IPL, Verma had made an impressive half-century in MI’s last game against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).