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[Watch] Siraj Given 'Impact Fielder Of The Series' Medal In South Africa After T20Is

image-lq65w5trMohammed Siraj (screengrab)

After a brief gap, the special ceremony organised to reward the best fielding performer inside the Indian dressing room returned on Thursday (December 14) night as fielding coach T Dilip decided to award Mohammed Siraj for his agility and impact.

The Indian speedster was given the newly coined 'Impact Fielder of the Series' for his contribution in the second and third T20Is of the series against South Africa, which ended with a fitting 1-1 scoreline following the tourists' dominant victory in the final fixture in Johannesburg.


Siraj was one of the three contenders for the medal announced by Dilip alongside youngsters Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were both outstanding in the field throughout the series. However, it was an exceptional run-out executed at a critical stage in the third T20I, which tilted the scales in the pacer's direction. 

India's stand-in spearhead helped dismiss South Africa's second T20I match-winner Reeza Hendricks, early in the Proteas run-chase with a direct hit from the mid-on region. As Hendricks sprinted towards the other end after mistiming a delivery from Arshdeep Singh, he paid the ultimate prize.

Hendricks almost instinctively ran to the other upon fending a delivery from Arshdeep without realising Siraj is stationed there perfectly for the direct hit. 

As it panned out, he was soon making the long walk back after Siraj absolutely nailed the direct throw with three stumps to aim at and found Hendricks well short of his ground. 

Dilip, however, didn't just base his judgement on this run-out as he made it a point to highlight Siraj's valiant dive and a boundary save in the second T20I which India lost. 



The two efforts were rewarded with special honour and praise inside the changing room in front of the entire squad and brought a wry smile to Siraj's face. Upon receiving the medal, Siraj hugged Dilip and said his lesson is to "never give up" as he waited for the entirety of the World Cup to be honoured for his fielding but was pipped to it by other options.