5 fielders in the world who have taken the most catches in international cricket, the world record has not been broken for 11 years

New Delhi. There is an old and very famous saying about catching on the international cricket field, ‘Catches win matches’. A great catch on the field not only ends the opposing batsman’s innings but also changes the course of the entire match. When it comes to the world’s greatest fielders who have taken the most number of catches in all three formats, Test, ODI and T20, then 5 such names come to the fore who have written history with their amazing reflexes from the boundary line to the slip corridor.

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene’s name shines at the top in the all-time list of most catches in all three formats of international cricket. In his 18-year long career between 1997 and 2015, Jayawardene played 652 matches, in which he took a total of 440 catches in 768 innings. Standing in the slips, it was worth seeing the magic of his fingers on the balls of spinners and fast bowlers. His best performance in a match was 4 catches, while his average of catches per innings was 0.572.

Amazing agility of Australian captain Ricky Ponting
The name of Ricky Ponting, one of Australia’s greatest captains and batsmen, comes at the second position in this list. Representing the Australian team and ICC XI between 1995 and 2012, Ponting took 364 catches in 717 innings of 560 matches. Ponting was known for his aggressive batting as well as his lightning speed at point and slip. His best performance in an innings was 3 catches, while his catch average per innings was recorded at 0.507.

Kiwi legend Ross Taylor’s trusted hand
Ross Taylor, one of New Zealand’s most successful middle-order batsmen, is at third position in this matter. Playing international cricket for New Zealand and Samoa from 2006 to 2025, Taylor took 354 catches in 550 innings of 454 matches. Ross Taylor’s consistency in the slips was amazing. He took a maximum of 4 catches in a match and his catch per innings average was 0.643, which is considered to be the best among the top three players.

Modern catching master Steve Smith
Australia’s most concentrated and technically adept player of the modern era, Steve Smith, is standing at the fourth position. In his international journey from 2010 to 2026, Smith has played 360 matches so far. In 472 innings of these matches, he has secured 346 catches in his hands. Smith, who has achieved the feat of taking 5 catches in an innings, has a catch average of 0.733, which is the best among all the greats included in this list.

Virat Kohli, the hero of the fielding revolution of Indian cricket
In this list, the name of Indian cricket’s run machine and former captain Virat Kohli is at number five. In his illustrious career from 2008 to 2026, Kohli has played 562 matches for India, in which he has 344 catches in his name in 671 innings. Virat Kohli has taken the standards of Indian fielding to a new level with his fitness and energy on the field. His average of catches per innings has been 0.512 with the best figure of 3 catches in an innings.