'Anticipation key to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's fielding brilliance': India fielding coach

Virat Kohli’s batting masterclass may have headlined India’s five-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI in Auckland, but two moments of fielding brilliance from the veteran duo of Kohli and Rohit Sharma were equally impressive.India’s fielding coach, Subhadeep Ghosh, believes both efforts boiled down to one factor: anticipation. Rohit effected a sharp runout of Daryl Mitchell after moving towards square leg even before the ball reached him, while Kohli pulled off a stunning catch at second slip, plucking an edge out of thin air.Ghosh said experience and familiarity with fielding positions helped the two players read the game a fraction earlier.“Anticipation is extremely important. The more time you spend in a particular fielding position, the better you become at reading the game. Virat has fielded at cover and point countless times, so he knows the trajectory and path of the ball, as well as how it is likely to travel after impact. He reads the situation slightly earlier than others and you can see that in his execution,” Ghosh said.He attributed Rohit’s run-out to the former India captain’s early movement towards square leg rather than a reaction after the ball was played.“As for Rohit, he anticipated that the ball would go towards square leg during that run out. He wasn’t moving straight, he was already shifting slightly towards square leg. That early anticipation allowed him to execute the skill perfectly. The more familiar you become with a particular position, the quicker you’re able to anticipate what is going to happen. That’s what makes the difference,” he added.Ghosh stressed that while experience and natural ability matter, anticipation is also developed through repetition in practice sessions, where players are exposed to match-like situations.“Experience is there, as is natural ability, but it is more about repetition. That’s why, in practice sessions, I try to replicate the match as closely as possible in terms of how the ball will come, so that they can anticipate and execute the skill,” he said.The fielding coach also pointed to the challenge of adapting to different conditions on overseas tours, particularly variations in ground dimensions and weather. Understanding the boundary’s position and getting the first step right, he said, are crucial to cutting down angles and covering ground effectively.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.