![Nissanka takes a stunner to dismiss Maxwell [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1771254737837_NissankatakesastunnertodismissMaxwell.jpg?type=hq)
Nissanka takes a stunner to dismiss Maxwell [Source: X]
The ongoing T20 World Cup has seen some of the best catches being taken, but on Monday evening, Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka left everyone behind to grab the catch of the competition as he took an unreal grab that left everyone stunned. He had dropped a catch earlier in the innings, but the Sri Lankan player redeemed himself to stun the Aussies.
The match was at a crucial juncture when Pathum Nissanka plucked the ball from thin air, as Glenn Maxwell, the batter, and the entire stadium witnessed a jaw-dropping grab which could easily be termed as the catch of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Nissanka redeems himself with catch of the T20 World Cup 2026
The event occurred in the 17th over when Sri Lanka’s Hemantha bowled a fuller length ball outside the off and Maxwell tried to be a bit cheeky as he went for a reverse sweep and connected from the sweet spot of the blade.
However, nobody expected what happened next. Nissanka was stationed at the backward point as he flew like a bird to his left and grabbed a one-handed stunner, and it turned out to be a jaw-dropping moment which nobody could believe.
Pathum Nissanka is mainly a righty, but he leaped in the air towards his left, and had a fraction of a second to make the correct judgement as the ball was coming to him at a rapid pace. Moments before the catch, he had dropped a sitter and the Sri Lankan fielder made up for the dropped chance with a stunner.
What made Nissanka's efforts catch of the World Cup?
This World Cup has witnessed several catches of the tournament contenders and each of them has been special in its own right. The likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Shimron Hetmyer, and Brian Bennett had taken some unreal grabs in the competition so far, but the catch from Nissanka defied gravity, and the player hardly had any time to react.
Again, what makes the catch special is the fact that the Lankan fielder grabbed it from his weaker hand. He is comfortable with his right hand, but Maxwell struck to his left. The ball speed, combined with his efforts to take it from his weaker hand, makes it the catch of the T20 World Cup 2026.
How the unreal catch shifted momentum for Sri Lanka
The Aussie opening duo of Travis Head and Mitch Marsh went bonkers right from ball one as the duo tore apart the Sri Lankan attack and added 104 runs for the opening wicket. The team did lose a couple of quick wickets, but they were well on their course to reach a total in excess of 200 as Maxwell was batting alongside Josh Inglis.
When the duo was batting, Australia were 160/4, and were in a pole position to decimate the Sri Lankan side. However, the Nissanka catch changed the momentum as the Australian team, after the dismissal of Maxwell, lost the last five wickets for a mere 21 runs and got bundled out for 181.
