There’s something in the air this IPL, and the players are not enjoying it. Despite teams hiring the best fielding coaches and using state-of-the-art training facilities, the catching in the tournament has been abysmal.

The list of players who have put sitters down includes illustrious names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Albie Morkel, Brendon McCullum, and even Rahul Dravid, one of the safest pair of hands in international cricket.

While Kolkata Knight Riders have been the worst performers in the field, other teams have struggled as well. Interestingly, the reasons put forth by players and coaches are nearly as varied.

Clear sky, blurred vision

According to one theory, with the clear blue skies as the backdrop, it’s difficult for the fielders to judge high catches accurately. “It is a difficult catching atmosphere,” says Kings XI Punjab coach Tom Moody. “The skies are very clear and it is very hard to read the catch. It isn’t surprising that people are dropping catches. At this level, if you do get a chance, you have got to kick on and take advantage of it.”

Colour blind

Delhi Daredevils coach Greg Shipperd feels the backdrop is having an effect. “It becomes very difficult for the fielders with a distracting background. There are people sitting in the stands wearing different colours...” Shipperd, however, isn’t a worried man. “We are not too bothered because we aren’t dropping any.”

Gone with the wind

Another factor for dropped catches could be the wind. “South Africa is pretty windy this time around,” points out Siddharth Trivedi, the Rajasthan Royals medium-pacer. “If you go to some of the grounds — especially Port Elizabeth and Durban — the breeze is very strong. The ball tends to swirl while it’s coming down, making it difficult to judge the line of the ball. You have to keep your eyes on the ball till the last moment.”

... contd.