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In a thrilling T20 World Cup encounter at Nassau County Stadium in New York, Team India pulled off a tense 6-run victory against Pakistan. Despite facing a significant batting collapse and being bundled out for a modest 119, the Indian team rallied to outmaneuver their arch-rivals and secure another memorable win.
Following the triumph, players and support staff congregated in the dressing room, where fielding coach T Dilip presented the ‘Best Fielder’ award. He had narrowed down the contenders to three: Rishabh Pant, recognized for his exceptional glove work behind the stumps; Suryakumar Yadav, lauded for his agile slip catch to dismiss Pakistan captain Babar Azam; and Arshdeep Singh, who managed to hold onto a catch despite colliding with Ravindra Jadeja.
In the end, Pant clinched the award, marking his first win since the tradition began. He was presented with the honor by former coach Ravi Shastri, who made an appearance in the dressing room following the conclusion of the match.
“First, give me a hug,” said Shastri after bestowing Pant with the medal.
Former India head coach then reminisced about the startling incident involving the wicketkeeper-batsman in December 2022, which sidelined him for 14 months.
“All I say for Rishabh. Brilliant performance. I had tears in my eyes when I heard about his accident. When I saw him in the hospital, it was worse. And then for him to come back from there and be back in the A-zone playing one of the biggest games, India vs Pakistan, is heartwarming,” said Shastri.
“Batting, everybody knew. What you’re capable of, is the X-factor you have. But your wicketkeeping and range of movement that you have quickly got back in after the operation, is a tribute for how much you worked hard. Not just for yourself, it’s an inspiration to millions around the globe. From adversity, from the jaws of death, you can snatch a win as well. So well done, keep up the good work” he added.
Shastri also addressed the fiercely contested match between the arch-rivals, emphasizing how it kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
“Typical India-Pakistan game, where the pendulum swings from one side to the other. It’s a game that puts everyone on edge, not just the dugout and the dressing room. A lot of people suffering from weak hearts will have problems with heart attacks, things of that sort, with lots of ambulances today,” he quipped.
That showed today, with the game going all the way down to the wire. And in the end, the team that ceases big moments, holds their nerve, they come out on top,” Shastri concluded.
