Despite having only three catches in three matches, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli’s fielding impact extends beyond mere statistics. While Matt Henry of New Zealand and Australia’s David Warner lead the tournament in catches, Kohli’s overall influence on the field is unmatched.
With a high ranking in runs saved and pressure ratings, Kohli’s cumulative score of 22.30 points places him at the pinnacle of fielding impact in the World Cup. His nearest competitors are seasoned players Joe Root, former England captain, and David Warner, both of whom have more catches than Kohli.
Fielding Impact: Post Three Group Matches for Each Country
| Player | Rating Points |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 22.30 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 21.73 |
| David Warner (AUS) | 21.32 |
| Devon Conway (NZ) | 15.54 |
| Shadab Khan (PAK) | 15.13 |
| Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 15 |
| Rahmat Shah (AFG) | 13.77 |
| Mitchell Santner (NZ) | 13.28 |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 13.01 |
| Ishan Kishan (IND) | 13 |
Teams like Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, and India each have two players in the top 10, with India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja just missing out at 11th place. This puts India at the forefront of team ratings, with their 14 catches in the tournament complemented by 10 runs saved, 16 pressure acts, and four commendable throws.
India’s fielding record is impressive, with only two dropped catches in the first three matches. England, the reigning champions, are the only team with fewer drops. The tournament hosts have been recognizing their best fielder in each match with a ‘Gold Medal’, which Kohli won during India’s triumphant match against five-time World Cup champions Australia.
All-rounder Shardul Thakur and experienced batter KL Rahul were also recipients of the award during matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan, respectively, for their outstanding catches.