WATCH: Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli React To 'Best Fielder' Award's Return With A Fresh Twist
India's prominent fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was awarded the 'Fielder of the Match' accolade following the Men in Blue's convincing eight-wicket victory over Ireland to commence their ICC T20 World Cup journey at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Siraj did not need to bowl his full quota of four overs as Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah dismantled Ireland's batting order. Hardik claimed three wickets, while Bumrah took two in his three-over spell.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday used social media to announce the winner. In the video, a young Indian fan was shown meeting with the Men in Blue players, and he proceeded to present the 'Fielder of the Match' medal to Siraj. Siraj accepted the medal with a warm hug from the supporter in an endearing manner.
View this post on Instagram
Siraj was exceptional with the ball, taking one wicket in his three overs while conceding 13 runs. Additionally, he played a crucial role in dismissing well-set batter Gareth Delany with his excellent fielding efforts in the 16th over of the match.
In T20 cricket, game awareness is crucial because every ball presents an opportunity. Today's match provided a great example with Axar Patel's caught and bowled and Virat Kohli's intense backing up, which exemplified what we discussed this morning, said India's fielding coach T Dilip in a video posted by BCCI.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: New York Pitch Deemed Dangerous, Unplayable, And Sub-Standard
The young fan expressed his desire to meet star pacer Arshdeep Singh, whom he considers the best. In the match, India secured an 8-wicket victory against Ireland, driven by impressive performances from Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Choosing to field first, Indian bowlers applied pressure on the Irish batters right from the beginning, reducing them to 50/8. However, a fightback led by Gareth Delany (26 off 14 balls) and Joshua Little (14 off 13 balls) helped Ireland reach a total of 96 runs in 16 overs.
During the run-chase of 97 runs, skipper Rohit Sharma played a crucial role with a half-century, scoring 52 runs off 37 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. Rishabh Pant provided solid support, remaining unbeaten on 36 runs off 26 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. Their efforts ensured India secured an eight-wicket victory.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Team India Practices In Public Park; Rahul Dravid Shares ‘Strange’ Details
