Spectacular boundary catches have thrilled cricket fans in recent years — think Suryakumar Yadav’s gravity-defying grab in the 2024 T20 World Cup or Michael Neser’s now-controversial relay catch in the Big Bash League (BBL). But come October 2026, the rules around such efforts will change drastically, with the MCC formally tightening its laws to eliminate the so-called “bunny-hop” catches.
The updated laws, which come into effect immediately in ICC playing conditions and officially enter the MCC’s lawbook in 2026, aim to remove ambiguity around airborne catches made outside the ropes. The essence of the change: one clean contact from beyond the boundary, and you must land inside. Anything beyond that? It’s a boundary.
What exactly changes?
Here’s what the MCC’s revised Law 19.5.2 and its sub-clauses now clarify:
- No repeat taps outside: A fielder jumping from beyond the boundary can touch the ball just once while airborne. After that, all further involvement must be within the boundary line.
- Stay in after touching: If a fielder pushes or parries the ball back into play, they must land inside and remain within the ropes until the ball is dead. Otherwise, it’s four or six.
- Relay rules tightened: In a two-player relay, the assisting fielder must also be inside the boundary when the catch is completed by their teammate. If not, it counts as a boundary.
According to MCC’s note: “Our solution has been to limit any fielder who has gone outside the boundary to touching the ball while airborne only once. After that point, the boundary becomes a hard line.”
That means Suryakumar Yadav’s now-famous catch — stepping out and leaping back in — remains legal. Michael Neser’s, however, where he juggled the ball multiple times while already outside, would be ruled a boundary under the new law. Fielders will still be allowed to leap from inside, go airborne outside, and return inside to complete a catch. But once grounded outside, their role ends — no repeat touches, no relay extensions.
- The exact law, numbered 19.5.2, states that a fielder not touching the ground is considered beyond the boundary if their last ground contact before touching the ball was not entirely within the boundary. This applies to all fielders contacting the ball after the bowler’s delivery.
- Section 19.5.2.1 of the law specifies that if a fielder’s initial ball contact complies with 19.5.2, they may jump from outside to touch the ball while airborne. However, all subsequent ground contact must occur within the field of play until the ball becomes dead, or a boundary will be scored.
- Section 19.5.2.2 further stipulates that if a fielder jumping from outside the boundary returns the ball to play, they must land and stay within the boundary until the ball becomes dead, or a boundary will be awarded.
The post Is Suryakumar Yadav’s iconic catch to be illegal now? MCC comes up with new ‘catching’ rules appeared first on Inside Sport India.