T. Dilip does not believe Virat Kohli is a born fielder. The man who coached India’s fielding unit for five years rejected the label outright when asked about it in an exclusive interview with RevSportz.
“I would like to skip that word called born or blessed with Virat Kohli. His athleticism is always backed with the amount of discipline and hard work he shows on the field. There is absolutely no difference between the way he practises in the practice session or in the match.”
T. Dilip, RevSportz interview with Boria Majumdar, August 20, 2026
The correction came when journalist Boria Majumdar described Kohli as a “born fielder” and asked how Dilip balanced coaching natural athletes alongside players who were not. Dilip refused the premise entirely. He said Kohli would come five steps ahead during catching drills and demand sharp catches be directed at him.
The result is a fielder who makes the difficult look routine, which Dilip believes has caused fans to overlook the preparation behind it. Kohli holds the record for most catches by an Indian fielder in international cricket history, with over 336 catches, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s previous mark. He also overtook Mohammad Azharuddin as India’s leading catcher in ODIs, as reported by PTI.
In a separate interview with JioStar earlier in August, Dilip described Kohli’s intensity on the field as something that physically changes the behaviour of the players around him. He pointed to Kohli running from long-on to long-on during the death overs, being the first to sprint out of the circle when the field is spread, and wanting the ball in his hands even when play is happening on the other side of the ground.
“With Virat Kohli, there is not much difference between him in a practice session and a match, because it’s not just Virat; it’s the five other players who have stretched their limits when they are fielding with Virat Kohli. That’s the influence he brings into the group.”
T. Dilip, JioStar interview, August 2026
Five players. Not a vague claim about “inspiring teammates.” A specific number from the coach who watched it happen across formats for half a decade.
Dilip also spoke about the fielding medal he introduced during the 2022 Asia Cup. He pitched the idea to Rohit Sharma over breakfast, originally proposing medals for batting, bowling, and fielding. Rohit told him to focus on fielding alone because batting and bowling already had the Player of the Match award.
Rahul Dravid backed the concept, and the medal became one of the most recognizable features of India’s dressing room. Kohli won the fielding medal during the 2023 ODI World Cup match against Australia in Chennai, reacting with what BCCI footage showed was genuine excitement.
🚨 Former India Fielding Coach T. Dilip on Virat Kohli’s Fielding🚨
🗣️ Virat Kohli is not just a naturally gifted fielder. His athleticism is backed by tremendous discipline and hard work.
There is absolutely no difference in the way Virat practices and fields in a match.… pic.twitter.com/yJzyGiN2R4
— Central Cricket (@arshdeep3444) August 20, 2026
Insider Read
The distinction Dilip made is not a small one. “Born fielder” implies that Kohli was given something others were not. That framing makes his fielding a spectacle rather than a process.
Anyone who has trained at professional level knows what Dilip is actually describing: drilled reflexes, not gifted ones. The dive at cover that looks instinctive is the product of hundreds of identical repetitions in practice sessions that nobody films. Kohli’s fielding is closer to how fast bowlers prepare their bodies than how batters find form. It is repetitive, physical, and deliberately invisible.
That is why Dilip said he never wanted anyone to be like Kohli. He wanted them to be the best version of themselves. The standard was the process, not the player.
Dilip’s Exit and What He Leaves Behind
Dilip joined the Indian setup in November 2021 under Rahul Dravid and served through Gautam Gambhir’s tenure until mid-2026. His contract was not renewed by the BCCI after the Zimbabwe T20I series, and Subhadeep Ghosh from the Centre of Excellence has replaced him.
During his nearly five-year stint, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy, the 2026 T20 World Cup, and Asia Cups in 2023 and 2025. Sanju Samson has spoken about Kohli’s lifestyle advice that overlapped with the fielding standards Dilip built around the squad.
Also Read:
Harbhajan: Kohli Is India’s Messi for 2027 World Cup
Gavaskar: Drop Average Fielders, India’s Catching Crisis
Clive Lloyd on Virat Kohli and West Indies Legends
