Is Suryakumar Yadav’s prestigious catch illegal now? MCC comes with new ‘catching’ rules

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.