Most catches in a Test by outfield player: Ajinkya Rahane holds the record

Catches win matches, one of the most famous proverbs in the game of cricket holds true for every format of the game.

Especially In Tests, the art of setting a strategic field to trap a batter and getting them dismissed through a catch by a fielder is a difficult task to master.

Veteran Team India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane holds the record for most catches in a Test by an outfield player. He took eight catches in a match against Sri Lanka in August 2015.

Most catches in a Test by an outfield player

Ajinkya Rahane - 8 catches vs Sri Lanka (August 2015)

Indian cricket team’s Ajinkya Rahane took eight catches in the first Test against Sri Lanka when the Lankans toured India in 2015.

He took three in the first innings and five in the second to cap off a good fielding performance. Unfortunately, India lost the match by 63 runs.

Among his top contributions for Team India, Ajinkya Rahane is best known for leading an injury-hit side to a stunning three-wicket win against Australia at Gabba, Brisbane in January 2021, a venue where the hosts hadn’t lost a match in 32 years.

Greg Chappel - 7 vs England (December 1974)

Aussie legend Greg Chappel set the record for the most catches in a Test match against England when Australia hosted their rivals in 1974.

He grabbed three catches in the first innings and four in the next in addition to his 62-run knock to win the match for his team by nine wickets.

Interestingly, England were his favourite opponents to play against. He smashed nine centuries and 12 fifties in 35 matches while playing against them.

Yajurvindra Singh - 7 vs England (February 1977)

Former Team India all-rounder Yajurvindra Singh played only four Tests in his short international career, but made significant contributions during that period, especially in his debut match against England in 1977.

His fantastic fielding performance for the Bishan Bedi-led side saw him grab five catches in the first innings itself in addition to two more in the second innings.

Team India won their only match of the five-match series by 140 runs.

Hashan Tillakaratne - 7 vs New Zealand (December 1992)

In a Man-of-the-Match performance against the Kiwis in the second Test of the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 1992, Tillakaratne scored 93 runs in the first innings and took a total of seven catches to derail the opposition batters and guide his team to a nine-wicket win.

Stephen Fleming - 7 vs Zimbabwe (September 1997)

Former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming, who is known as one of the finest T20 strategists of all time, was equally sharp and spot-on with his fielding.

In a contest versus Zimbabwe in 1997, he took seven catches in a high-scoring draw against the Chevrons.

He also features among players who have played the most consecutive matches as captain in Tests (65), behind Australian greats Allan Border and Ricky Ponting.

Australia’s Matthew Hayden and KL Rahul from India have also taken seven catches in a Test match.

Photo credit: Alamy