Mohammed Siraj, India’s prominent pacer, received the ‘Fielder of the Match’ award as India cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Ireland in their ICC T20 World Cup opener at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Although Siraj didn’t bowl his full quota of overs, his teammates Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah took charge, dismantling Ireland’s batting lineup. Hardik claimed three wickets, while Bumrah secured two in his three-over spell.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Siraj as the recipient of the award through a video shared on X, showcasing a young Indian fan presenting him with the medal, followed by a warm embrace between the two.
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Siraj showcased his brilliance on the field, contributing with the ball by taking one wicket in three overs, conceding only 13 runs. Notably, he played a crucial role in dismissing Gareth Delany in the 16th over with his exceptional fielding efforts.
Reflecting on the match, India’s fielding coach T Dilip emphasized the significance of game awareness in T20 cricket, citing examples of Axar Patel’s caught and bowled dismissal and Virat Kohli’s energetic fielding efforts.
The young fan expressed his desire to meet star pacer Arshdeep Singh, whom he admires greatly.
In the match, India’s bowlers dominated from the outset, restricting Ireland to 96 runs in 16 overs despite a late resurgence from Delany and Joshua Little. In response, Rohit Sharma’s half-century (52 off 37 balls) and Rishabh Pant’s supportive innings (36* off 26 balls) guided India to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.