[Watch] Suryakumar Yadav receives best fielder medal from Jay Shah after India's 2024 T20 World Cup final win vs South Africa
Team India's Suryakumar Yadav bagged the best fielder award for his sensational catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. He received the dressing room medal from BCCI secretary Jay Shah following the Men in Blue's seven-run win.
South Africa needed 16 runs from the final over to chase down India's target of 177. With the dangerous David Miller at the crease, the contest seemed to be evenly poised at that juncture.
Hardik Pandya commenced the 20th over with a low full-toss. Miller countered it with a lofted shot towards long-off. While it initially seemed as if the ball would sail over the ropes for a maximum, Suryakumar showed tremendous composure under pressure, completing a juggling catch near the ropes.
Shah handed over the best fielder medal to Suryakumar and the Indian players and members of the support staff cheered loudly, appreciating the 33-year-old's brilliance on the field.
You can watch the video of Jay Shah presenting the best fielder medal to Suryakumar Yadav below:
Here's the video of Suryakumar's catch:
Suryakumar Yadav failed to make a significant impact with the bat in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, perishing after scoring just three runs. However, despite the failure, he was one of the key architects in India's thrilling victory, courtesy of the extraordinary catch.
"It felt like a trophy was sailing over the boundary to the other side" - Suryakumar Yadav on his catch to dismiss David Miller in 2024 T20 World Cup final
Speaking about what went through his mind when David Miller hit the ball in the air, Suryakumar Yadav said he felt like the T20 World Cup trophy was sailing over the boundary.
He pointed out that the Indian players have practised such catches under the guidance of fielding coach T Dilip. Reflecting on the game-changing catch, Suryakumar told India Today:
"Now it's easy to say. But at that time, it felt like a trophy was sailing over the boundary to the other side. But yeah, in that moment, you don't think the ball will cross the boundary line and go for six. Whatever was in my control, I tried it. And wind was also a good factor at that moment and helped me a little bit. And we have done a lot of practise sessions with our fielding coach and taken a lot of catches like this. So when it comes to a game like this, our presence of mind is very important."
India enjoyed an imperious run at the showpiece event, becoming the first team to win the men's T20 World Cup unbeaten.