India's Axar Patel, left, passes the ball to teammate Shivam Dube to dismiss England's Will Jacks during the T20 World Cup cricket semi-final match between India and England in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)The destination of the ICC T20 World Cup would probably have been different had it not been for the faultless execution of a facet of the game that’s almost taken for granted these days.A total of 253 was never meant to be threatened, but a combination of the flat Wankhede Stadium pitch, the small ground and Jacob Bethell announcing his arrival on the big stage, meant that England remained in the hunt in the semifinal despite their top order contributing next to nothing. A requirement of 82 in a little over six overs was a tall task, but the way Bethell and England’s man of the tournament Will Jacks were going in their 77-run stand in just over six overs, Suryakumar Yadav and his troops, as well as the packed Mumbai crowd, couldn’t rest easy.It was then that Axar Patel and the relay catch with Shivam Dube made the decisive intervention. Arshdeep Singh slanted one full and wide of Jacks’s off-stump. The batsman’s slice seemed to be, for all intents and purposes, falling into vacant real estate, before Axar materialised close to the boundary rope, with Dube in close attendance.Running full tilt from deep cover, the left-arm spinner stretched to catch the ball before his momentum took him beyond the rope. But by that time, he had already tossed it to the waiting hands of Dube. Even though Bethell kept fighting till the final over, England were always fighting a losing battle from that point onwards.It was arguably the most high-profile instance of the relay catch on the boundary making a match-deciding impact, but it has become so commonplace that neither Axar nor Dube made too much of it.“I initially thought I wouldn’t get there, but then realised I could reach. Credit should also go to Shivam because he hung back and did not charge into me,” said the man who did all the hard work.“When I took that catch, I noticed from the corner of my eye that I was running towards the boundary ropes. It was a fraction-of-a-second decision. I was thinking Shivam was standing right there so I can just lob the ball and he can easily catch it.”Story continues below this adDube also stressed on the moment’s significance in the larger scheme of things rather than the athleticism and co-ordination involved.“I knew it was in his (Axar’s) reach, so I slowed down. If Axar tried to stop it from going for a six, he would throw the ball to me. It was just anticipation that Axar will go all out to stop the ball. That catch was the moment for me too. Things changed in a close game with that catch,” the tall all-rounder told The Indian Express later.There’s a reason such catches are downplayed by fielders these days, even if commentators and fans go overboard in praise. This particular skill – tag-team relay catches close to the boundary rope – are practised so assiduously these days that it’s a surprise and a disappointment for the fielding team when one of these efforts doesn’t succeed.In the IPL, with the scoring graph going higher each season, fielding makes the vital difference. Relay catches are a bonafide skill now and two fielders are expected to go after a high ball that goes close to the rope. But they have to be a suitable distance apart so as to not come in each other’s way while being close enough so that the fielder catching the ball initially can safely lob the ball to his waiting teammate.Story continues below this adIf it sounds simple, it’s because fielding teams have perfected the mantra. The IPL has seen several such catches taken over the years – sometimes the player making the initial effort himself comes back into play to complete the catch without any assistance – and the upcoming season will doubtless add to the roster.Tushar Bhaduri is a highly experienced sports journalist with The Indian Express, based in Delhi. He has been a journalist for 25 years, with 20 of those dedicated to sports reporting. Professional Background Expertise: Tushar writes on a wide variety of sports, focusing on the "bigger picture" and identifying underlying trends that impact the sporting world. Experience: He has covered numerous major global sporting events over his long career. Writing Style: He is known for providing analytical depth, often exploring governance, sportsmanship, and tactical evolutions in games like cricket, golf, and hockey. Recent Notable Articles (2025) His recent work highlights his diverse interests, ranging from the business of golf to major international cricket tournaments: Golf and Athlete Ventures: "In turf battle of golf leagues, Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh in opposite camps" (Dec 11, 2025) — A piece on the rivalry between new golf leagues promoted by Indian cricket legends. "Golf's glittering stars in India: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood... battle for $4million prize" (Oct 14, 2025) — Coverage of the biggest-ever golf tournament in India. Cricket and World Cups: "How rains in Colombo helped India stay alive in the ICC Women's World Cup" (Oct 22, 2025). "Champions Trophy: How Glenn Maxwell brain-fade proved costly" (Mar 4, 2025) — Analysis of a critical turning point in the IND vs AUS match. "IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: In PBKS and RCB, the league's underachievers look to take one step closer" (May 28, 2025). Thought Pieces and Policy: "Sportsmanship is going out of fashion" (Oct 8, 2025) — An editorial on the blurring lines between passion and provocation across various sports like chess, golf, and cricket. "Can the Italian Open really become the fifth Grand Slam in tennis?" (May 20, 2024). Olympic Sports: "Paris Olympics hockey: Why the defeat to Belgium ushers in hope and optimism for India" (Aug 1, 2024). Topics of Interest Tushar frequently writes about IPL strategy, ICC tournament planning, and profiles of rising stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He also maintains a keen interest in historical sports narratives, such as the legacy of Dhyan Chand. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. 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