India defeated New Zealand in the ODI World Cup after 20 years on October 22 (Sunday). Before this, the Men in Blue hadn't managed to beat New Zealand in a World Cup since 2003. However, thanks to the brilliance of Mohammad Shami and Virat Kohli, India broke the jinx in Dharamsala.
Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in India's success against the Blackcaps. Iyer took a stunning catch at square leg as New Zealand's formidable opening batsman, Devon Conway, attempted a flick shot off the third ball of Siraj's over. Iyer leaped in the air to take a remarkable catch, helping India secure an early wicket with New Zealand's score at just nine runs. Conway returned to the pavilion without scoring a run.
Team India's fielding coach, T Dilip awarded Iyer the 'Best Fielder Medal' after the match. Dilip typically awards medals to different players after each match in unique ways. This time, Dilip didn't announce the Best Fielder on screen or inside the dressing room. First, he delivered a speech in which he praised the players. He praised Siraj, Virat, and Iyer's fielding. Then, he took all the players outside the dressing room and onto the field and used a spider cam to place the Best Fielder medal around Iyer's neck.
Watch the video here:
Dilip's approach to recognizing fielding excellence is appreciated by fans, and players are delighted with such post-match events.
India's victory over New Zealand in this crucial ODI match was due to the significant contributions of both the bowlers and the batsmen. However, the team's performance in the fielding department was a bit lackluster. Nonetheless, Iyer's stunning catch provided a bright spot in the fielding department, and his efforts didn't go unnoticed as he was rightfully honored with the Best Fielder Medal by the team's fielding coach.
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