During a rain-affected ODI match in Auckland between India and New Zealand, two exceptional fielding plays captured attention: Virat Kohli’s one-handed catch and Rohit Sharma’s acrobatic run-out. What made these moments possible wasn’t simply reflexes or athleticism, but a specific skill that separates elite cricketers from the rest. According to India’s fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh, anticipation—the ability to read how a ball will travel before it arrives—was the common thread linking both dismissals.
The Role of Experience in Reading the Game
Kohli’s catch came when New Zealand batter Nathan Smith hit a powerful drive off Anshul Kamboj. Playing in the cover region, Kohli needed to stretch quickly and snatch the ball inches from the ground using only one hand. Ghosh highlighted that Kohli’s years of experience fielding in the covers and point positions gave him a significant advantage. Because he has fielded in these areas countless times, he understands exactly how the ball travels, its path through the air, and the impact it creates off the bat. This accumulated knowledge allowed Kohli to recognize the situation slightly earlier than other fielders and execute the catch with apparent ease.
Anticipation Over Reaction Speed
Rohit Sharma’s dismissal of well-set Daryl Mitchell at Eden Park during the first innings demonstrated a similar principle. The 39-year-old threw the ball to the keeper from the mid-wicket area while his body was still in the air. Rather than reacting to where the ball was going, Ghosh explained that Rohit anticipated where the ball would travel. He took his first steps toward square leg before the ball even arrived, positioning himself at the right moment to enable the run-out. Ghosh noted that this advanced anticipation allowed Rohit to execute the skill precisely when needed.
How Practice Builds Anticipatory Skills
The development of such anticipation doesn’t happen randomly. Ghosh revealed that India’s fielding practice sessions are specifically designed to replicate match conditions as closely as possible. By practicing with realistic scenarios, fielders develop the mental patterns and muscle memory needed to anticipate ball movement during actual games. This structured approach to training transforms anticipation from an innate talent into a learnable and refinable skill that experienced players can continuously improve.
For cricket fans and aspiring players, the key insight is clear: the most impressive fielding plays often result not from superhuman reaction times, but from experienced players reading the game before it unfolds. Anticipation bridges the gap between seeing a ball in flight and being positioned to catch it or create a dismissal. This principle applies across all levels of cricket, suggesting that younger players focusing on developing positional awareness and game reading may ultimately become more effective fielders than those relying solely on physical attributes.
Sources and further reading
- Subhadeep Ghosh reveals secret behind Virat Kohli’s stunning catch and Rohit Sharma’s run-out — cricketaddictor.com, 2026-11-06