India’s star cricketer Virat Kohli has made history in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. During India’s opening match against Bangladesh, Kohli equaled the record for the most outfield catches by an Indian player in ODI cricket. His achievement has placed him among the top three catchers in ODI history.
- Kohli now has 156 catches in ODIs, equaling Mohammad Azharuddin‘s record for India.
- He ranks third on the all-time list of most outfield catches in ODIs.
- The record is held by Mahela Jayawardene (218 catches), followed by Ricky Ponting (160 catches).
Kohli’s Record-Breaking Catches
India bowled first after Bangladesh won the toss. In the second over, Kohli grabbed his 155th catch, dismissing Najmul Hossain Shanto at cover. Later, in the 43rd over, he took another crucial catch at long-on, equaling Azharuddin’s record of 156 ODI catches.
All-Time Leaders in Outfield Catches (ODIs)
| Player | Team | Matches | Catches |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Asia/SL | 448 | 218 |
| Ricky Ponting | AUS/ICC | 375 | 160 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | IND | 334 | 156 |
| Virat Kohli | IND | 298* | 156 |
| Ross Taylor | NZ | 236 | 142 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | IND | 463 | 140 |
| Stephen Fleming | ICC/NZ | 280 | 133 |
| Jacques Kallis | Afr/ICC/SA | 328 | 131 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran | Asia/ICC/SL | 350 | 130 |
| Younis Khan | PAK | 265 | 130 |
| Allan Border | AUS | 273 | 127 |
| Shahid Afridi | Asia/ICC/PAK | 398 | 127 |
| Rahul Dravid | Asia/ICC/IND | 344 | 124 |
| Chris Gayle | ICC/WI | 301 | 124 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Asia/SL | 445 | 123 |
| Carl Hooper | WI | 227 | 120 |
| Brian Lara | ICC/WI | 299 | 120 |
What This Means for India
Kohli’s ability to take crucial catches makes him one of the best fielders in world cricket. His presence on the field strengthens India’s defensive strategy. As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 continues, his fielding skills will be key to India’s success.
India’s Performance in the Match
India’s bowlers started strong, with Mohammed Shami dismissing Soumya Sarkar in the first over. Harshit Rana then removed Shanto, leading to Kohli’s first catch. Later, despite Rohit Sharma dropping a catch, India managed to restrict Bangladesh to 228 runs in 49.4 overs.
Kohli’s Road Ahead
With Kohli still active in international cricket, he has the chance to surpass Ricky Ponting and become the second-highest in ODI outfield catches. If he continues his performance, he may even challenge Jayawardene’s record in the coming years.
Kohli’s historic milestone in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 adds another achievement to his legendary career. His sharp fielding and leadership will be crucial as India aims to lift the trophy. Fans will be eagerly watching as he looks to climb higher in ODI records.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
