Team India on Sunday (June 9) pulled off a narrow six-run victory over Pakistan in Group A clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.
After the game, the Indian players and the support staff gathered in the dressing room where fielding coach T Dilip announced the ‘Best Fielder’ award.
There were three nominees for this honour – Rishabh Pant (for his excellent glovework behind the stumps), Suryakumar Yadav (for his sharp reflex catch at slip to dismiss Babar Azam) and Arshdeep Singh (for taking the catch of Imad Wasim despite colliding with Ravindra Jadeja).
In the end, Pant bagged the medal for the first time and he received it from former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was the special guest in the dressing room.
“First, give me a hug,” said Shastri after bestowing Pant with the medal.
Shastri then recalled Rishabh Pant’s near-fatal car accident in December 2022, which kept him out of action 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,” he stated.
Shastri called Pant an inspiration to millions around the globe for how quickly he made his return to the game after the horrific car crash.
"Batting, everybody knew. What you're capable of, 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 remarked.
Coming to the match, India suffered a mid-innings collapse on a tricky two-paced pitch, resulting in a disappointing total of 119 all-out in 19 overs. Rishabh Pant top scored with 42 off 31 balls after being invited to bat under overcast conditions.
In reply, Pakistan were cruising at one stage, needing just 48 runs from as many balls with eight wickets in hand. However, the Indian pace battery, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3-14) and Hardik Pandya (2-24), staged a remarkable comeback and restricted Pakistan to 113/7 in 20 overs.
Commenting on the match, Shastri said: “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.”
“That showed today, with the game going all the way down to the wire. And in the end, the team that seizes big moments, holds their nerve, they come out on top,” he concluded.
