Rinku Singh Shatters Kohli’s Fielding Record in Vizag T20I

India’s Rinku Singh scripted history on January 28 during the fourth T20I against New Zealand at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first non-wicketkeeper fielder to take four catches on Indian soil. This remarkable achievement shattered Virat Kohli’s previous record of three catches in a single match.

Equalling Pakistan’s Saim Ayub

Rinku’s exceptional display of fielding prowess not only surpassed Kohli but also matched Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who achieved the same feat against New Zealand in Auckland in 2024. The Indian all-rounder displayed brilliant athleticism throughout the match, taking high-flying catches and executing jump catches across the field. His victims included Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, and Zakary Foulkes, providing crucial support to India’s bowling attack.

An Elite Fielding Record

Beyond this single-match brilliance, Rinku has established himself as one of the world’s finest fielders in T20I cricket. With 30 catches in just 39 T20Is, he boasts an impressive catch-per-innings ratio of 0.739—the highest globally among players with over 20 T20I catches. This distinction places him ahead of UAE’s Muhammad Waseem and joins him alongside his former KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane as Indians with four catches in a T20I.

Despite Rinku’s outstanding contributions with both bat (39 runs) and ball, India fell short by 50 runs, getting bowled out at 165 while chasing 216. Nevertheless, this performance underscores Rinku’s emergence as a dynamic all-rounder capable of delivering match-winning moments on the international stage.