Although he did not come out on top with the bat this time, it is hard to write off Virat Kohli when it comes to fielding. Once again, this champion player was named India’s best fielder for his performance in the IND vs NZ ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match on March 2.
The fielding medal tradition, which started in the ODI World Cup 2023, is only growing stronger. Many fans, especially during ICC tournaments, eagerly wait to know who receives the medal after India’s matches. However, this time, the dressing room ceremony took an amusing turn when the fielding medal briefly went missing. Players and support staff playfully searched for it, jokingly exclaiming, “Medal hi nahi mil raha!” (The medal is nowhere to be found). Eventually, Axar Patel handed it over to fielding coach T Dilip, and training assistant Udenaka Nuwan Senevirathne presented it to Kohli.
It is important to note that Virat Kohli recently surpassed Rahul Dravid and now leads the charts for the most catches by an Indian player across formats.
List of most catches for India in international cricket
| Rank | Player | Catches |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 334 |
| 2 | Rahul Dravid | 333 |
| 3 | Mohammad Azharuddin | 261 |
| 4 | Sachin Tendulkar | 256 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | 229 |
Glenn Phillips stuns Virat Kohli with a breathtaking flying catch
Yes, while it is a Team India tradition to award fielding medals to their own players, New Zealand’s fielding performance yesterday was simply outstanding. Players like Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner fielding exceptionally well. However, it was Glenn Phillips who stood out.
Arguably the best fielder in the world right now and undoubtedly an exceptional catcher, Phillips showcased his brilliance once again by dismissing Virat Kohli, who was batting on 11. The Indian star stamped a powerful square cut to a short, wide delivery, seemingly sending the ball racing towards the boundary. But Phillips soared like an eagle, diving brilliantly to his right and snatching the ball, leaving Kohli in disbelief.
