Stalwart batter Virat Kohli was awarded the ‘Fielder of the Match’ accolade after India missed out on the World Cup title at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video summarizing the World Cup journey over the past one and a half months. India’s fielding coach T Dilip came up with creative ways to make the award special, and this time it was a simple conversation that led to Kohli receiving the medal.
The experienced batter delivered an inspiring performance with the bat and showcased sensational fielding skills. He displayed aggressive presence, celebrated each wicket, and put his body on the line to prevent the ball from reaching the boundary.
Dilip praised Kohli for his on-field brilliance, saying, “During the tournament, I think we took some brilliant catches, but what I really liked is the brotherhood we shared on the field. The way each one supported each other and the outstanding teamwork is something to be proud of. Today’s winner, Virat Kohli, has been a terrific player. He sets high standards for himself and consistently performs magic on the field. His actions inspire many people, and it’s none other than Virat Kohli.”
Dilip also delivered an inspirational speech to lift the players’ spirits, emphasizing that despite ending up on the losing side, the players should be proud of themselves.
“Guys, I know it is tough and we all feel the pain, but that’s the reality. We did everything possibly right, and still the result is not in our favor. But I think Rahul (Dravid) bhai said we can all be proud of ourselves. I appreciate and thank every player in this group who has committed in the practice sessions. The way you put yourself on the line, put intent and energy. I couldn’t ask for more than this. Well done,” Dilip added.
Turning to the match, India was restricted to a score of 240 in 50 overs. On a challenging batting surface, skipper Rohit Sharma (47 off 31 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes), Virat Kohli (54 off 63 balls, with four boundaries), and KL Rahul (66 off 107 balls, with one four) played crucial innings.
Mitchell Starc (3/55) was the standout bowler for Australia. Skipper Pat Cummins (2/34) and Josh Hazlewood (2/60) also bowled effectively, while Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell each grabbed a wicket.
While chasing 241, India had Australia struggling at 47/3. Notable contributions from Travis Head (137 off 120 balls, with 15 fours and four sixes) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 off 110 balls, with four boundaries) left the Indian team powerless and guided Australia to a six-wicket victory.
The World Cup finalists will now engage in a five-match T20I series, commencing Thursday in Visakhapatnam.
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