India’s star bowler, Mohammed Siraj, earned the ‘Fielder of the Match’ accolade after India’s resounding victory over Ireland in the ICC T20 World Cup opener at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. Despite not bowling his full quota of four overs, Siraj made a significant impact as Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah dismantled Ireland’s batting lineup. Hardik claimed three wickets, while Bumrah took two in his three-over spell.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Siraj’s award on X with a heartwarming video featuring a young Indian fan presenting the medal to Siraj, who embraced him warmly. Siraj’s exceptional fielding skills, which included a crucial wicket in the 16th over, added to his stellar performance with the ball, where he conceded only 13 runs in three overs.
T Dilip, India’s fielding coach, emphasized the importance of game awareness in T20 cricket, highlighting instances like Axar Patel’s catch and bowl and Virat Kohli’s intense backing up. Meanwhile, the young fan expressed his desire to meet star pacer Arshdeep Singh, whom he regards as the best.
In the match, India’s dominant display, fueled by Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, secured an eight-wicket victory over Ireland. Opting to field first, India’s bowlers kept pressure on Ireland, limiting them to 96/8. However, a late resurgence from Gareth Delany and Joshua Little pushed Ireland’s total to 96 in 16 overs.
During the chase, Rohit Sharma’s brisk fifty (52 off 37 balls) and Rishabh Pant’s steady innings (36* off 26 balls) guided India to victory, chasing down the target of 97 with ease.