CWC 2023 [WATCH]: Indian dressing room celebrates as Virat Kohli receives ‘gold medal’ for outstanding fielding against Australia

India cricket stalwart Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in India’s victorious encounter against Australia on October 8 in the ongoing ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023. Kohli’s exceptional performance on the field earned him the ‘Best Fielder Medal’ from Indian team for his remarkable efforts during Men in Blue’s first match of the marquee tournament.

India’s commanding victory

The Indian cricket team  displayed their dominance as they secured an emphatic six-wicket victory over Australia in their opening game of the quadrennial event, which unfolded in Chennai. After winning the toss, Australia opted to bat first but were eventually bowled out for a modest total of 199 runs in 49.3 overs. India faced a challenging early phase during their chase, losing two wickets for just three runs. However, they recovered brilliantly and successfully reached the target in 41.2 overs. Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in this remarkable victory, contributing not only with his batting but also with his outstanding fielding skills.

Virat Kohli’s fielding excellence

Kohli’s fielding prowess shone brightly during the fixture, earning him the prestigious ‘Best Fielder of the Match’ award. His outstanding fielding efforts included a spectacular diving catch at slip to dismiss Mitchell Marsh for a duck off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. Additionally, towards the end of the Australian innings, Kohli showcased his safe hands by taking a simpler catch at mid-off to dismiss Adam Zampa, courtesy of Hardik Pandya‘s bowling.

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Celebratory dressing room moment

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a behind-the-scenes video capturing the celebratory atmosphere in the dressing room after India’s resounding triumph over Australia. In a light-hearted ceremony, fielding coach T Dilip presented Kohli with the ‘Best Fielder’ award. Kohli’s teammates enthusiastically cheered for the iconic batter as he proudly wore the medal, concluding the memorable video with a joyful moment of the 34-year-old playfully biting the medal in celebration of his exceptional fielding performance. This recognition stands as a testament to Kohli’s unwavering commitment to excellence, both with the bat and in the field, making him a truly exceptional cricketer.

“BTS from the #TeamIndia dressing room 🇮🇳 A kind of first nd the best fielder of the match award goes to….,” the caption reads.

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