Roelof van der Merwe. (Photo Source: Jio Hotstar)
Age is often spoken about in cricket, but Roelof van der Merwe showed it has little relevance when fitness and awareness are right.
A stunning moment came during India’s final group-stage match in T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18, when Logan van Beek cleverly delivered a fullish, slower delivery outside off in the ninth over. Tilak Varma, who had looked composed while compiling 31 off 27 balls, attempted to loft it over long-off, aiming to break the middle-overs strangle.
However, the lack of pace on the ball meant Tilak could not generate the required elevation or distance. Van der Merwe, stationed slightly wider than regulation at long-off, judged the trajectory perfectly. He covered significant ground to his right, timed his dive well, and executed a sensational reverse-cup catch, ensuring the ball stayed secure even on impact with the turf.
Watch the video here:
View this post on Instagram
Tim David suspended for first match of IPL 2027 after breaching code of conduct during RCB vs GT final
‘Vaibhav Suryavanshi has to be fast-tracked into the Indian T20I side’ – Kris Srikkanth’s huge statement on batting prodigy after IPL 2026 final
Steven Finn makes intriguing comparison of MS Dhoni with Virat Kohli’s future after IPL 2026 win
‘Winning trophies has always been my biggest motivation’ – RCB’s Krunal Pandya jubilated after winning fifth IPL trophy
