Former India fielding coach T Dilip has opened up about the standards maintained by Virat Kohli during his time with the national team. Dilip, who worked with India for nearly five years before his stint came to an end after the recent tour of England, was part of the coaching setup during several memorable campaigns, including the team’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Speaking about Kohli’s approach, the former fielding coach highlighted the qualities that made the veteran batter such an influential presence within the group.
T Dilip explains Virat Kohli’s impact on India teammates
According to Dilip, Kohli’s intensity remains one of his defining qualities, both during matches and training sessions. The former fielding coach praised the veteran batter for maintaining the same level of energy even at this stage of his career. Dilip further explained that Kohli’s influence goes beyond his own fielding efforts. He noted that the former India captain’s approach encourages other players around him to raise their standards.
“When it comes to Virat Kohli, intensity is non-negotiable. You have seen him in the powerplay, how he is as a batsman, whether at cover or short mid-wicket, with his reflexes and with his dives, is admirable. With Virat Kohli, there is not much difference between him in a practice session and a match. It’s not just Virat; it’s the five other players who have stretched their limits when they are fielding with Virat Kohli. That’s the influence he brings into the group,” Dilip told JioStar.
Dilip recalls India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph
Dilip identified India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados as the best moment of his nearly five-year stint with the national team. However, he revealed that the atmosphere inside the dressing room after the victory left the biggest impression on him.
“If I go back to my best moment, I think Barbados 2024, not just the trophy, but the dressing room atmosphere afterwards, the silence for a few seconds before it broke. I could sense the amount of hard work the boys had put in over those four years. And I’ll always keep that frame in my mind,” Dilip said.
Dilip was also involved in one of the most memorable moments of the final when Suryakumar Yadav took a stunning catch to dismiss David Miller in the final over. He recalled initially staying calm while assessing whether the catch had been completed cleanly before celebrating once it was confirmed.With India preparing for their upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, Dilip also stressed the importance of fine margins in slip fielding, particularly against both fast bowlers and spinners.
