During a press conference after the India vs. New Zealand 2023 World Cup match, Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj playfully discussed the “fielder of the match” medal.
When asked about the medal, Shami, while standing with Siraj, inquired if he would receive it. In response, Siraj humorously said, “I will get it”. Shami received the Player of the Match award for his exceptional bowling performance, taking 5 wickets for 54 runs in the Dharamsala match against New Zealand.
During a post-match press conference, Shami was questioned about the team’s camaraderie and the friendly competition among players to win the “fielder of the match” award. While addressing the question, he unexpectedly turned his gaze toward Siraj and inquired:
“Milega bhai? [Will I get it?]”
Siraj responded:
“Mujhe milega. [I will get it.]”
Rohit was surprised by the coach’s efforts to make the ‘best fielder’ campaign exciting. You can watch the video here, shared by the BCCI.
In previous match best fielder winner were announced through the big screen in stadium
This time the winner's picture came flying through the spidercam #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/JhJI19LAGt
— CA Ashish Ram (@ashishram24) October 23, 2023
Just to clarify, Shreyas Iyer was awarded the “fielder of the match” for his outstanding catch that removed New Zealand opener Devon Conway for a duck, bowled by Siraj. On a more serious note, Shami acknowledged that the team’s atmosphere is excellent, and this positive environment is crucial for the team’s success.
“When you talk about bonding, it’s very important. We have repeated it so many times that you should always play as a unit. As far as enjoying is concerned, I have told you before, that if you enjoy the success of others, you will get better results. And the medal of the dressing room as well, I believe we will get one today as well,” he stated.
Even though Shreyas received the “fielder of the match” award, India’s fielding performance wasn’t up to par on Sunday. Both Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah missed straightforward catches, and KL Rahul couldn’t grab a challenging opportunity.
“Did you get the result of whose pace attack is good?” – Shami discusses the competition between the “top” bowling units
The India vs. New Zealand match was hyped as a showdown between the two strongest pace bowling lineups in the 2023 World Cup. India boasts Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami, while New Zealand relies on Boult, Henry, and Ferguson. When questioned about this matchup, Shami playfully responded:
“Did you get the result of whose pace attack is good, whose spinner attack is good? The results are in front of you. When the top two teams of the tournament are playing, previous results don’t matter. Their game on the day is what matters.”
Shami took five wickets, while Siraj and Bumrah contributed one wicket each for India. In response, Ferguson managed 2/63 in eight overs for New Zealand, and Boult and Henry each secured a single wicket.
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