Dubai [UAE]: India batter Shreyas Iyer was awarded the ‘Fielder of the Match’ medal by former India head coach and all-rounder Ravi Shastri following India’s victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal on Tuesday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of the medal ceremony, capturing the moment Iyer received the honor. His sharp fielding skills made a significant impact on the match when he executed a crucial direct hit to dismiss Alex Carey, who was on a threatening knock of 61 runs. Iyer’s brilliant throw in the 48th over curtailed Australia’s chances of posting a bigger total, restricting them to 264 runs in 49.3 overs.
Before presenting the medal, India’s fielding coach T Dilip emphasized the importance of “presence” and “awareness” in knockout matches.
“It demands a unit that does not just react, but makes things happen. The way we cut the angles, made second runs difficult, made them earn every run, that is proof of top-notch fielding effort,” said the coach.
Coach Dilip also introduced the nominees for the medal, which included Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill (for taking Travis Head’s catch), and Virat Kohli (for catching Josh Inglis and Nathan Ellis). Ultimately, Shreyas Iyer’s game-changing direct hit earned him the medal.
Ravi Shastri’s arrival in the dressing room was met with cheers from the Indian team, most of whom have played under his leadership. In his signature booming voice, Shastri addressed the team, saying,
“Individual brilliance will take you to a certain level. It will be a collective team effort that will take you across the finishing line when champions play.”
Match Summary:
Australia, opting to bat first, faced an early setback with the dismissal of Cooper Connolly. However, Travis Head (39 off 33 balls) and Steve Smith built a steady partnership. Smith continued to anchor the innings with Marnus Labuschagne (29) and Alex Carey (61). Carey’s innings was cut short by Iyer’s direct hit, and Australia was eventually bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs.
Mohammed Shami (3/48) was the standout bowler for India, supported by Varun Chakravarthy (2/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40). Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya also chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing 265, India stumbled initially, losing Rohit Sharma (28) and Shubman Gill (8) early. However, a vital 91-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (45 off 62 balls) revived India’s innings. Kohli’s composed 84-run knock, along with a fiery cameo by Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls), steered India to victory at 267/6 in 48.1 overs.
For Australia, Nathan Ellis (2/48) and Adam Zampa (2/60) were the top bowlers.