Virat Kohli cemented his legacy as India’s ultimate cricket warrior by becoming the nation’s all-time leading ODI fielder during India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan in Dubai. The 36-year-old icon now holds 158 catches in 299 ODIs, surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin’s 156 catches achieved over 334 matches.
The Record-Breaking Moment
Kohli clinched the milestone by dismissing Pakistan’s Naseem Shah with a sliding catch at long-off during the 47th over, followed by a textbook grab of Khushdil Shah’s slog sweep. His razor-sharp reflexes and athleticism – honed through years of rigorous fitness regimes – silenced doubts after fans spotted him training with an ice pack on his left leg just 24 hours earlier.
Global Fielding Dominance
Kohli now ranks third globally in ODI catches behind Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (218) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (160). He has outpaced Indian legends like Sachin Tendulkar (140), Rahul Dravid (124), and Suresh Raina (102) since equaling Azharuddin’s tally days earlier against Bangladesh.
A Career Built on Precision
- Debuted in ODIs vs Sri Lanka (August 2008)
- Maintains 93.43 strike rate with 13,985 ODI runs
- Only player with 50+ ODI centuries
Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently stated: “Kohli doesn’t need to prove anything – his hunger defines modern cricket”. This sentiment echoed across social media as Kohli displayed sportsmanship by tying Naseem Shah’s shoelaces mid-game and sharing a warm moment with Babar Azam pre-match.
