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Virat Kohli etched his name in history once again during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
The Indian batting maestro became the country’s most successful fielder in One-day Internationals (ODIs), surpassing the legendary Mohammad Azharuddin in terms of catches.
Heading into the high-stakes encounter, Kohli needed just one more catch to claim the record. He achieved the milestone in style when Pakistan’s Naseem Shah attempted an aggressive charge against Kuldeep Yadav but mistimed his shot. Kohli reacted swiftly, sprinting forward and executing a well-timed dive to complete his 157th catch in ODI cricket, surpassing Azharuddin’s long-standing record of 156 catches.
But he wasn’t done yet. Kohli added another to his tally, grabbing his 158th catch by dismissing Khushdil Shah—the last wicket—off Harshit Rana, further cementing his place as India's greatest ODI fielder.
Most catches as fielder for India in ODIs
| # | Player | Catches | in Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 158 | 299 |
| 2 | Mohammad Azharuddin | 156 | 334 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar | 140 | 463 |
| 4 | Rahul Dravid | 124 | 344 |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | 102 | 226 |
Kohli now stands among the greatest fielders in ODI history. However, Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene remains the all-time leader with an astounding 218 catches in 448 matches, followed by Ricky Ponting (160 catches), Virat Kohli (158 catches), Azharuddin (156 catches), Ross Taylor (142 catches), and Sachin Tendulkar (140 catches).
Most catches in ODIs
| # | Player | Matches | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka | 448 | 218 |
| 2 | Ricky Ponting, Australia | 375 | 160 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli, India | 298 | 158 |
| 4 | Mohammad Azharuddin, India | 334 | 156 |
| 5 | Ross Taylor, New Zealand | 236 | 142 |