The rain interfered ODI match in Auckland witnessed two stunning fielding efforts made by the former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Ahead of the India vs New Zealand second ODI match of the ongoing series, India National Cricket Team's fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh praised Virat Kohli's excellent one-handed catch and Rohit Sharma's acrobatic run-out.

On the eve of the second of the five-match series, Subhadeep Ghosh described how Virat and Rohit made those dismissals possible. Ghosh made his point of view part by part to describe two different efforts. But one thing in his explanation was common: anticipation.

Subhadeep Ghosh on Virat Kohli's one-handed catch

Before playing the fifty-plus-run knock to seal the win for the team, Virat Kohli caught the headlines with his stunning fielding effort. New Zealand's aggressive batter Nathan Smith played a powerful drive off Anshul Kamboj. Virat Kohli was on the spot, but he had to stretch his body quickly to take the catch. He caught the ball only a few inches from the ground using only one hand.

Subhadeep Ghosh noted that Virat Kohli has years of experience fielding in the cover region. So he has an idea of how the ball could travel. As he read the ball earlier, he was able to move quicker and took the catch effortlessly.

"See, in fielding, I think one thing that is very, very important is anticipation. The more you stay in that place, Virat has fielded in covers, point, I think, lakhs of times. So he knows exactly the trajectory of the ball, the path of the ball, the impact of the ball. So he reads the situation slightly earlier than the rest of the guys, and the execution, you can see," Ghosh stated.

Subhadeep Ghosh on Rohit Sharma's acrobatic run-out

In the previous match between India and the New Zealand National Cricket Team, which was held at Eden Park. In the first innings, it was the 39-year-old Rohit Sharma who first took everyone by surprise by dismissing well-set Daryl Mitchell. Rohit threw the ball to the keeper from the mid-wicket area while his body was in the air.

According to Ghosh, Rohit's anticipation was so advanced that he took a few steps earlier. Therefore, he got to the ball at the right time and made the run-out possible.

"And as far as Rohit is concerned, that run-out, I think he was anticipating the ball early. The scores go to square leg. He was not moving straight; he was moving slightly towards square leg. So he anticipated slightly earlier and executed the skill," the fielding coach said.

Subhadeep Ghosh on India's fielding practice

The coach further claimed that in the practice sessions too, they tried to make their drills as realistic as possible.

"That's why, in practice sessions, I try to replicate as closely as possible how the ball will come in a match, so that they can anticipate and execute," he added.

Virat Kohli's excellent catch 👌 Rohit Sharma's acrobatic run-out 👏 🎥 #TeamIndia fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh on how anticipation and awareness form the core of these fielding acts 🤝 #NZvIND | @imVkohli | @ImRo45 https://t.co/IDJccGhRSU

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 6, 2026

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