Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai

Dubai, Feb 24: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan awarded the prestigious 'Fielder of the Match' medal to Axar Patel for his brilliant direct hit that dismissed Imam-ul-Haq in India’s high-voltage Champions Trophy Group A clash against Pakistan on Sunday.

India’s bowling unit restricted Pakistan to 241 all out, setting the stage for a classic Virat Kohli masterclass. Kohli’s 51st ODI century propelled the Men in Blue to a comprehensive six-wicket victory in the much-anticipated showdown.

After the win, India’s fielding coach T. Dilip addressed the team in the dressing room, commending their sharpness on the field. He praised the accuracy of their throws, which resulted in five direct hits, and compared a great fielding unit to a Formula 1 pit crew that makes split-second decisions without hesitation. He highlighted the two crucial run-outs as game-changing moments.

Dilip credited his support staff for keeping the energy high before announcing the medal nominees. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Shreyas Iyer were in contention for their stellar performances. Jadeja was recognized for his agility and stunning catches, Axar Patel for his key run-out and outfield catch, and Shreyas Iyer for his consistent efforts in saving runs at the boundary.

Shikhar Dhawan, congratulating Rohit Sharma’s squad for their dominant win, praised Kuldeep Yadav for his three-wicket haul and acknowledged the consistent performances of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. He applauded the support staff for fostering a great team environment before revealing the winner, announcing that the moment of magic belonged to none other than Axar Patel.

With this resounding victory, India now gears up for their final Group A fixture against New Zealand on March 2.