In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where boundaries fly and scores are chased down at dizzying rates, the focus often shifts to big-hitting batsmen or wily bowlers. But hidden in plain sight is a quieter, cerebral battle between captains. With limited overs and even fewer chances to shift momentum, an IPL captain has to be part-strategist, part-psychologist.
While team selection, toss decisions, and bowling rotations grab headlines, one often overlooked element of elite captaincy is field placement, particularly when it defies conventional logic. In T20 cricket, where time is short and stakes are high, most captains stick to tried-and-tested formations. But the truly brilliant leaders dare to go off-script. They gamble with unusual, sometimes bizarre, fielding positions — based not just on data but intuition, anticipation, and deep study of opposition tendencies.
And when those gambles pay off, they produce moments of cricketing brilliance that are spoken about long after the match is over. Let’s revisit five such instances where IPL captains outsmarted world-class batsmen with fielding setups that looked risky — but turned out to be masterstrokes.
1. MS Dhoni Sets a Leg-Slip Trap for AB de Villiers
Captain: MS Dhoni
Batsman: AB de Villiers
Match: RCB vs CSK at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, April 2019.
Match Situation:
RCB were under pressure after losing a couple of early wickets. AB de Villiers was their best bet for rebuilding and then exploding in the death overs. Deepak Chahar was operating with the new ball, getting slight movement off the deck.
Unorthodox Move:
Dhoni, anticipating AB’s tendency to shuffle across the stumps and glance fine, surprised everyone by placing a leg slip — a fielder barely seen in T20 cricket unless the bowler is working with serious seam movement.
The Result:
Chahar bowled a short-of-length delivery on AB’s pads. AB tried to guide it fine, but got a soft edge. Faf du Plessis, stationed perfectly at leg slip, caught it with ease. The crowd was stunned — it was a chess move that removed the king.
Why It Worked:
Dhoni read AB’s intent and movements, banking on muscle memory forcing the shot even if it was risky. It wasn’t about numbers; it was about psychological warfare. This move showcased MS Dhoni’s legendary game sense — always one step ahead.
2. Rohit Sharma Crowds the Off-Side for Andre Russell
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Batsman: Andre Russell
Match: MI vs KKR at Abu Dhabi, September 2020.
Match Situation:
KKR were losing momentum and needed Russell to turn the tide. He walked in with 5 overs to go — a license to kill. Jasprit Bumrah was about to bowl a crucial over.
Unorthodox Move:
Rohit surprised everyone by stacking four fielders on the off-side ring, including a deep point and sweeper, leaving a vacant mid-wicket and long-on. It looked risky — almost like an invitation to go leg-side.
The Result:
Bumrah bowled wide yorkers after wide yorkers. Russell tried to muscle one through extra cover, but the packed field created pressure. He sliced one straight to Hardik Pandya at point.
Why It Worked:
Rohit nullified Russell’s arc. The plan was simple — tempt him to reach out, knowing he wouldn’t be comfortable driving square. Rohit backed Bumrah’s accuracy and out-thought one of the most feared finishers in cricket.
3. Gautam Gambhir’s Short Extra Cover for Virat Kohli
Captain: Gautam Gambhir
Batsman: Virat Kohli
Match: KKR vs RCB at Sharjah, May 2014.
Match Situation:
Kohli was set and looking dangerous. With Narine introduced into the attack, the plan was to choke him using pace off the ball.
Unorthodox Move:
Gambhir placed a short extra cover – not deep enough to prevent boundaries, but perfectly placed to intercept lofted or on-the-up drives.
The Result:
Kohli drove Narine on the rise, expecting the ball to beat the infield. But the fielder at short extra cover snatched a sharp catch, leaving Kohli furious and stunned.
Why It Worked:
Gambhir had noticed Kohli’s tendency to drive on the up when he’s in form. By placing a ‘hidden’ fielder, he baited the exact shot. It was a well-researched field that translated into a game-changing wicket.
4. David Warner Shields for the Reverse Sweep
Captain: David Warner
Batsman: Rishabh Pant
Match: SRH vs DC at Dubai, October 2020.
Match Situation:
Rishabh Pant had just walked in and was looking to counter Rashid Khan, who was tightening the screws with his googlies and flippers.
Unorthodox Move:
Warner placed a three-point reverse sweep shield: short third man, backwards point, and a wide slip — creating a ring to cut off Pant’s reverse sweep zones.
The Result:
Pant attempted a reverse sweep off a quick googly. The ball took the edge and flew straight to the backwards point, a near-unthinkable position for a conventional T20 field.
Why It Worked:
Warner knew Pant’s muscle memory and instincts under pressure. The trap wasn’t about preventing runs — it was psychological. Pant was lured into thinking it was still on, and fell for it.
5. Hardik Pandya’s Twin Short Mid-Wickets vs Livingstone
Captain: Hardik Pandya
Batsman: Liam Livingstone
Match: GT vs PBKS at DY Patil Stadium, April 2022.
Match Situation:
Livingstone had already hit a six and was looking to target the spinners. GT needed to curtail him before he could tee off.
Unorthodox Move:
Hardik positioned two fielders at short mid-wicket, a rare sight in T20 cricket — both catching, both within 15 metres of the batsman.
The Result:
Livingstone attempted a pick-up shot against Rashid Khan. He couldn’t get the elevation and found one of the mid-wickets. The plan worked to perfection.
Why It Worked:
The double-mid-wicket setup played on Livingstone’s ego and instincts. It removed his favourite scoring area and forced a miscalculated risk. For a relatively new captain, this was a display of bold thinking.
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