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‘Terrific!’- India Fielding Coach Hails Virat Kohli For Outstanding Slip Catch Vs AUS

image-lniyw1x0Kohli's athletic fielding stole the show vs Australia [AP]

Team India cantered themselves to an easy win against Australia in their World Cup 2023 opener in Chennai off the back of suave run-chase specials from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Earlier in the game, India's spin trio Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin had dismantled Australia's star-studded line-up to just 199.

However, it was new-ball pacer Jasprit Bumrah who set the tone of an Australian batting collapse upfront by dismissing Mitchell Marsh for a duck. Bumrah, in his early breakthrough, received much assistance from a diving Virat Kohli at slips, who held on to a sensational catch next to the wicketkeeper.

After the match, India's fielding coach, T Dilip, showered huge praise on Kohli for his catching efforts and stated that the cricketer has been committing himself to intense fielding drills during practice sessions of late.

T Dilip hails Virat Kohli after mock medal ceremony

A day after India's emphatic six-wicket win over Australia, the team's fielding coach, T Dilip, praised Virat Kohli for his sublime catch at slips, one which set the ton of an Australian batting collapse earlier in the game. Dilip said that the senior Indian cricketer always maintains the same intensity level during fielding, whether it is during a match time or during a training session.

He further explained Kohli's recent training routines and expressed his delight in witnessing a successful fielding execution in a match.

“One of the great things with Virat Kohli you can always see is that his intensity level is always the same whether it’s a match or a practise. Now yesterday was a prime example where we are trying to challenge both laterally and also height up and down, so he was up to it all the time," Dilip said. 

"His catch against Australia at the 2023 World Cup was so special because he went towards his non-dominant left side, and also the ball was low and he had to react quickly. It was amazing to see as a fielding coach, what we have practised in the practise sessions and seeing that execution happening in a match. It’s terrific," he added.

Notably, after the match, T Dilip gifted Virat Kohli a medal for his fielding efforts in a mock ceremony in the dressing room.

Watch: Virat Kohli cheerfully accepts fielding medal from coach

Apart from his fielding efforts, Virat Kohli also unfurled a match-winning 85 with the bat to stage a miraculous recovery for Team India after they slumped to 2-3 inside two overs. Kohli steered his team near the finishing line with KL Rahul, who also scored an unbeaten 97 in a successful run-chase.

Virat Kohli and the rest of his teammates will now face Afghanistan on October 11 at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium for their subsequent World Cup 2023 challenge.