Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli Claims 'Fielder of the Match' Award Following Victory Against NZ
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Synopsis
On March 3 in Dubai, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was honored with the 'Fielder of the Match' award for his exceptional fielding during India's Champions Trophy group stage triumph over New Zealand. India now advances to the semi-finals against Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Virat Kohli received the 'Fielder of the Match' medal.
- Varun Chakaravarthy took five wickets in the match.
- India secured the top spot in Group A.
- The semi-final against Australia is scheduled for Tuesday.
- Kohli achieved his 300th ODI appearance.
Dubai, March 3 (NationPress) Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli was awarded the 'Fielder of the Match' medal for his outstanding fielding during India's Champions Trophy final group stage victory against New Zealand on Sunday.
Varun Chakaravarthy's impressive five-wicket performance propelled India to a 44-run victory, securing the top position in Group A of the tournament. India is set to clash with Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday in Dubai, while New Zealand will compete against South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.
After the match, India's fielding coach T Dilip praised the players for their exceptional fielding efforts in the dressing room and highlighted the candidates for the best fielding accolades. Udenaka Nuwan Seneviratane, the training assistant, presented the medal to Kohli, marking his significant 300th ODI appearance.
"We consistently emphasize being a top-notch fielding unit. For me, the key aspect is how proactive you are. I observed various facets of the game; the way we restricted the opposition when Mitchell came in and struggled to rotate the strike. The bullet throws from the outfield were commendable," Dilip remarked in a video shared by BCCI on its website.
Regarding the contenders for the award, he mentioned, "The one who resembled a superhero while taking that catch was Axar Patel. Game after game, he demonstrated his prowess, taking crucial catches and asserting his presence on the field. Virat Kohli also excelled with his diving efforts, alongside Shreyas Iyer."
Kohli is now the seventh Indian player to reach the 300-ODI milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and Yuvraj Singh.
Unfortunately, the star batsman had a muted impact in this milestone game, getting dismissed by Matt Henry for just 11 runs. Kohli attempted a powerful cut shot, but Glenn Phillips executed a stunning one-handed catch at backward point, leaving Kohli and the audience in disbelief.
Shreyas Iyer was the top scorer for India with a well-played 79, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya contributed 42 and 45 runs respectively, helping the team achieve a total of 249/9 in their 50 overs.
