Stats are weird and they surely are! King Virat Kohli now leads the charts for India in terms of most catches for the Men in Blue in the ODI World Cup, apart from the keepers. Virat Kohli achieved this rare feat after taking a blinder of a catch off a Jasprit Bumrah delivery to dismiss Mitchell Marsh.
Most catches for India in ODI WC (non-WK)
15 – Virat Kohli*
14 – Anil Kumble
12 – Kapil Dev
12 – Sachin Tendulkar
Having his impact in the field, when not batting, Kohli was placed at first slip in the absence of Shubman Gill. He dived to his left in an instant to take a stellar catch picking his 15th catch in the ODI World Cup campaign. It is to be noted that this is Kohli’s 4th World Cup. He played his first in 2011 and 12 years later is playing his 4th.
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Kohli has surpassed some of the Indian greats with his stunning catch. He went past the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and Anil Kumble to become the highest catcher sans keepers for the Men in Blue in the ODI World Cup.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh heaped praise on Virat Kohli for lifting Team India’s spirit in such a high-pressure match.
“The pressure to win a match is always high, but if you do not enjoy playing the game, then you won’t get the desired result. However, enjoying the game is not always easy because you are constantly calculating every move and wondering about the outcome. You are always thinking about what will happen if you lose or if the match goes against you. Virat Kohli is a seasoned player who has played numerous matches and is now emphasizing the importance of enjoying the game with the team. So, naturally, if you enjoy the match, it is also reflected in the score. Virat Kohli exudes positive energy, which helps boost the team’s spirit. He has always taken up this role in the team.”
Coming to the game, Pat Cummins-led Australia won the toss and decided to bat first against Rohit Sharma’s India in the fifth ODI World Cup 2023 match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Both India and Australia are considered one of the best teams in the ODI World Cup. Both teams will be looking to start their campaigns with a win.
Speaking at the toss, 36-year-old Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shubman Gill will be missing the Men in Blue’s opening match of the tournament due to illness and Ishan Kishan will replace him. “The conditions are there for the bowlers, slightly on the slower side. We need to understand our lines and lengths early. We’ve played a lot of cricket before the WC, played two good series’ and covered all our bases. He hasn’t recovered in time. Ishan comes in to replace him, he will open the batting,” Rohit said.
~Tune in to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, streaming for free on mobile on Disney+ Hotstar, and broadcast LIVE on Star Sports Network
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