IPL 2024: Ball boy unites with Jonty Rhodes in wholesome moment post LSG-KKR clash

In the heart of every child who loves cricket, lies an unwavering hope to one day stand face-to-face with the legendary figures they've admired from afar. A similar moment became an actuality for Atharw K. Gupta, a young ball boy who happened to grab a perfectly executed catch beyond the third-man fence off a short-pitched delivery by Vaibhav Arora which was adeptly upper-cut by Marcus Stoinis. The incident happened on the fifth delivery of the third over during the match between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. 

Post the completion of the match which LSG lost by quite some margin (98 runs), legendary Jonty Rhodes, a true icon and an inspiration for every youngster when it comes to fielding, was benevolent enough to have a short chat with Atharw. Rhodes, who had applauded the effort by the youngster from the dugout during the course of the game, met Atharw and once again acclaimed the youngster. He asked Atharw whether, at any point, he felt like he lost the ball in the floodlights, to which Atharw affirmed that he didn't. After Rhodes asked the boy whether he liked taking catches the Australian way (reverse-cup), the camera was directed towards the ball boy, who showered words of praise upon the former South African cricketer. 

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He expressed his admiration for the fielding great as well as recounted the previous instance he had had the blessed opportunity to meet his idol at a fielding camp in 2020. He reflected upon the immense learning that he imbibed during their previous meeting, also re-emphasizing Rhodes being the only cricketer who has won the Player of the Match award solely due to fielding efforts, in a game against the West Indies in 1993.

Rhodes further underscored the very essentials of fielding - getting your hands and body under the ball and nimble foot movement while tracking the trajectory of the ball, both of which were immaculately enforced by Atharw. At the end of the video, they could be seen shaking hands and greeting each other with a namaste, with Rhodes being chuffed with the razor-sharp memory of Atharw.