LSG's fielding coach, Jonty Rhodes, surprised many by rewarding Deepak Hooda after he dropped a crucial catch during their match against CSK at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. Given Rhodes' reputation for promoting a strong fielding culture within the team, this gesture seemed out of character. Hooda's missed opportunity was no ordinary one—it was the catch of Ravindra Jadeja.

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Jonty Rhodes awards Deepak Hooda for delaying MS Dhoni's arrival

In a video shared by the franchise on social media, Jonty Rhodes presented Deepak Hooda with a soft toy, raising eyebrows in the dressing room. However, Rhodes soon clarified his unconventional decision, leaving the team impressed. He pointed out that Hooda's dropped catch actually served a tactical purpose: it delayed MS Dhoni's entrance to the crease.

Jonty Rhodes explained, "The fielding award is not just about brilliant performances, fielding is about a win. The yellow team, they have this guy MSD, he was striking at around 400. I think it was a smart decision by birthday boy Deepak Hooda to let the ball go for a six, so that meant Dhoni didn't come out for another five balls."

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The incident unfolded on the third ball of the 17th over, as Ravindra Jadeja lofted Mohsin's delivery straight down the ground. Hooda, positioned a tad too close to the boundary rope, missed what could have been a straightforward catch, resulting in a six. Ravindra Jadeja marked his half-century with his signature sword celebration.