There’s an old adage in cricketing parlance that wisely states that catches win matches. However, it would seem that in the hurly-burly of the IPL the inverse is also true, dropped catches do not lose matches.

In last night’s Rajasthan v Punjab encounter there were nine spilled chances in the first 20 overs alone, including a Darren Lehmann howler when Punjabi top-scorer and captain Yuvraj Singh was in his teens. The unfortunate bowler Shane Warne was in the middle of a remarkable spell and had already dismissed Sangakkara and Hopes before Yuvraj was given a reprieve.

To Warne’s credit he did not drop his head or try to lay blame when catches were spilled regularly and his captaincy throughout was patient, creative and attacking. Watching twin leg-spinners is always a joy and Dinesh Salunkhe, runner-up in the bizarre television reality show Cricket Star, and yet to play a First-Class match, bowled in tandem with Warne and his delivery that claimed Jayawardene was a jaffa.

Salunkhe must be pinching himself. A virtual unknown 12 months ago, he is now mentored by the greatest leg-spinner to roll his arm over, playing in front of packed audiences and claiming scalps of Test captains. He completely fooled Mahela Jayawardene with a ball that dipped late and spun sharply allowing Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal the easiest of stumpings.

After setting a modest total in the conditions of 166/8, Punjabi international quicks Brett Lee and Sreesanth both bowled urgently and aggressively but once again Yuvraj Singh’s lack of leadership let his team down.

Lee asked during his first over for a second slip only to be refused and predictably the next delivery was edged waist high through the vacant area. The incredulous and disdainful look on Lee’s face said all that was needed. He neither trusts or respects his skipper.

Sreesanth, after having a caught behind appeal rejected by Aleem Dar, reacted immaturely, first abusing batsman Kamran Akmal, then the umpire, who appealed to Yuvraj to calm his bowler. When Sreesanth first ignored and then turned his anger toward his skipper, Yuvraj shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly strolled back to the covers. Unsurprisingly, the next two deliveries were leg-side wides and to top off the over Irfan Pathan stationed at mid-on dropped a simple chance from his brother’s bat.

It didn’t get any better for the Punjabis. Once Shane Watson was set he flayed the bowling at will and in partnership with veteran Lehmann and dashing teenager Ravindrasinh Jadeja Watson showed his finishing skill as a limited overs batsman, pacing the innings beautifully to finish 74 not out in Rajasthan’s relatively easy six wicket victory at the jumping Sawai Man Singh Stadium.

It’s not often a team can drop nine chances and win a cricket match easily. Either the old cricketing wisdom is no longer relevant in the brave new world of T20 or the Punjabi XI, despite its apparent strength on paper, is massively underperforming. History and logic suggests it is the latter.

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