Virat Kohli looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

With his brows furrowed and his mouth set in a tight line, he stared blankly towards point for a moment before giving a slight shake of his head and heading back to the pavilion.

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips had just pulled off a catch that left Kohli—and everyone else watching—absolutely stunned. He dove to his right, fully extended, soaring through the air like a hawk, snatching the ball mid-flight.

But Kohli's catch wasn’t the only jaw-dropping moment from Phillips at the recent Champions Trophy. He executed another nearly identical catch to dismiss Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, and then in the final against India, he leaped high to take out Shubman Gill. (Of course, India ended up winning.)

There’s no doubt that, even in an era of cricket where athletic and agile fielding is the standard, Glenn Phillips stands out as the best fielder in the world.

Watching him soar through the air triggered a vivid memory for me: the legendary Jonty Rhodes, with his tousled blonde hair and bright green flannel, doing things on the cricket field that had never been seen before.

Just a few months after his international debut in 1992, Rhodes revolutionized the world of fielding.

Before that, fielding was often the least respected part of the game, with many great batsmen and bowlers looking down on it.

After witnessing Rhodes in action, it was clear that no one could keep up with that level of skill. He demonstrated that fielding is an art form in its own right, capable of being a true calling and having the power to shift the outcome of a match, much like a brilliant bowling spell or an outstanding innings.

As shorter formats of the game gained traction, the significance of fielding increased. With the rise of modern athleticism and fitness training in cricket—one of the last major team sports to adopt elite training methods—exceptional fielders became more prevalent.

Take the 2024 T20 World Cup, for example, which showcased some incredible fielding moments.

Remember Suryakumar Yadav sprinting at full speed, managing to palm a ball that seemed destined for a six back into play? He leaped over the boundary rope, retrieved the ball, and made a catch that ultimately secured the Cup for India.

Outstanding fielding requires every skill that defines a great athlete:

* Anticipation: Rhodes once shared in an interview, “The key to being a better fielder is to expect every ball to come your way.” He recalled how commentators praised his ‘anticipation’ during games. “I didn’t have quicker reflexes than anyone else, nor did I see the ball sooner. I simply anticipated that every ball would come to me. I was always prepared before the ball was hit.”

* Focus: A good fielder keeps their eye on the ball from the time it leaves the bowler until it’s in a fielder’s hand. “The more cues you can get before the batsman hits the ball, the better - whether it’s the shape of the shot or whatever,” former England cricketer Paul Collingwood, another “superman” fielder, once said.

* Timing and reflexes, which also call for elasticity, agility and power: How fast does one need to move? How high does one need to jump? Exactly when should one stick one’s hand out so as to latch on to the ball and then leap, dive, roll, reach or throw?

“The best fielders in the world are the ones who’ve got quick feet, who are very strong in the thighs, and who pick the ball up and shift their alignment with the hips,” Collingwood once said.

No wonder Phillips, who was a gymnast as a boy, is so good at it. It will be a pleasure to see him in action, playing for the Gujarat Titans, in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Read Also: Why the IPL's Expansion to 94 Matches Will Have to Wait: Key Challenges Ahead

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