Sachin Tendulkar gives ‘Superhero’ tribute to Campbell Kellaway for his gravity-defying catch in the Sheffield Shield

The Sheffield Shield is known for producing high-quality cricket, but every now and then, a moment of sheer brilliance transcends the game and captivates audiences worldwide. One such moment occurred when Victoria’s Campbell Kellaway pulled off an outrageous, jaw-dropping catch at the WACA, leaving even the great Sachin Tendulkar in disbelief. The stunning grab was not just one of the highlights of the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 season – it was an early contender for the best catch of the year across all formats of the game.

The unbelievable catch by Campbell Kellaway and praise from Sachin Tendulkar

During a tense Sheffield Shield clash between Victoria and Western Australia, Cameron Gannon launched a powerful hook shot toward long-on, seemingly destined to sail over the fielder. Kellaway, stationed deep in the outfield, initially misjudged the flight of the ball. However, displaying lightning reflexes and extraordinary athleticism, the 22-year-old Victoria cricketer adjusted mid-stride, launched himself into the air, and stuck out his right hand in a desperate attempt.

What followed was pure cricketing magic. The ball stuck in his outstretched palm as he tumbled forward, completing an almost impossible catch that ultimately later on sealed Victoria’s nail-biting 34-run victory over Western Australia. The moment, captured in grainy footage from the streaming cameras, quickly went viral, with fans and cricketing legends alike left in absolute awe.

The catch did not just amaze fans in Australia – it caught the attention of cricketing royalty, Tendulkar, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to heap praise on Kellaway’s acrobatics. The legendary Indian batter, known for his eye for cricketing excellence, was so impressed that he jokingly wondered whether Kellaway was auditioning for a role as a Marvel or DC superhero.

“Was it an audition for @SpiderMan or @Superman? This is truly a mind-boggling catch. Simply awesome!” Tendulkar wrote on X, acknowledging the sheer brilliance of the effort.

Was it an audition for @SpiderMan or @Superman? This is truly a mind-boggling catch. 😮

Simply awesome…👏🏻
pic.twitter.com/oK5HsfVuNl

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 19, 2025

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Victoria clinch thrilling 34-run victory over Western Australia in Sheffield Shield

Victoria registered a hard-fought 34-run win over Western Australia in a closely contested Sheffield Shield match at the WACA. Batting first, Victoria managed 197 runs, with Oliver Peake (52) and Peter Handscomb (48) anchoring the innings, while Corey Rocchiccioli starred with the ball, claiming 5/67. Western Australia struggled in their first innings, getting bowled out for 186, as David Moody (4/41) and Sutherland (3/32) led Victoria’s bowling attack.

In the second innings, Kellaway played a match-defining knock of 165 off 338 balls not out, helping Victoria declare at 370/9, setting a stiff target of 382. Western Australia fought valiantly, with Hilton Cartwright (79) and Cooper Connolly (56) keeping hopes alive, but Sutherland (4/79) and Peter Siddle (4/68) struck at crucial moments to dismiss them for 347. Kellaway was named Player of the Match for his game-changing century, ensuring Victoria walked away with a crucial win and seven points from the match.

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