T Dilip has said Virat Kohli’s relentless intensity did much to raise fielding standards in the India squad. Dilip’s almost five years as fielding coach ended after the team’s recent tour of England, and in an interview with JioStar he praised the role senior players played in building the culture, with Kohli standing out.
In Dilip’s words, intensity is non-negotiable with Kohli.
A standard that never dropped
During Dilip’s time, India introduced a fielding medal to recognise strong performances in the field, underlining that fielding is as important as batting and bowling. He said Kohli kept an exceptional level wherever he stood, noting his reflexes and diving at cover or short midwicket, even after batting in the powerplay.
Dilip also praised Kohli for keeping that up late in innings, when fatigue sets in. He said Kohli was still diving and sharp in the last series, sprints from long-on to long-on at the death, and is first to dash out of the circle when the field spreads.
Barbados remains the highlight
Dilip’s favourite memory is India’s T20 World Cup win in Barbados on June 29, 2024. Suryakumar Yadav took the Best Fielder Medal after a crucial catch in the final.
Dilip said it was not just the trophy but the dressing-room atmosphere afterwards, including a few seconds of silence before it broke. For him, it capped years of work to make fielding excellence part of India’s identity, with Kohli’s intensity as a key benchmark.
