IND vs SA: Watch- KL Rahul Sacrifices His Impact Fielder Of The Series Medal For Debutant Sai Sudharsan

Young Indian batter Sai Sudharsan was awarded the ‘Impact Fielder of the ODI Series’ medal for a remarkable catch during the third ODI in South Africa. Indian captain and wicketkeeper KL Rahul sacrificed his chance to receive the award in favor of Sai Sudharsan.

The KL Rhul-led team secured a 78-run win against South Africa in the third ODI at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday, December 21, leading to a 2-1 series victory. Notably, Rahul had captained India in the previous South Africa tour, which resulted in a 0-3 defeat.

The Men in Blue clinched their second ODI series win on South African soil. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli previously led the team to a 5-1 triumph in 2018. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are the only Indian captains to achieve an ODI series win in Rainbow Nation.

A Tight Call Between KL Rahul And Sai Sudharsan – Ajay Ratra

Indian fielding coach Ajay Ratra praised KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Sanju Samson for their outstanding performances in the ODI series against South Africa. Ratra revealed that Rahul insisted on giving the ‘Impact Fielder of the ODI Series’ award to Sai Sudharsan.

“There are few magnificent performances in the ODI series. Altogether, we have taken 12 catches during the ODI series against South Africa. KL has alone taken six catches. Sanju has taken two catches, one as a keeper and another as a fielder. Sai took one brilliant catch today. It was a tight decision to decide the best fielder. It was a tight call between Rahul and Sai. But Rahul was generous enough to say that the catches were on his hand and we should give this award to Sai,” Ratra said.

India’s fielding coach, T Dilip, has introduced a unique ceremony held in the dressing room after each series. Dilip employed innovative methods before declaring the game’s best fielder, who received a medal, injecting a competitive spirit into the team’s fielding endeavors.

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A 2⃣-1⃣ ODI series win in South Africa ??

Any guesses on who won the Impact fielder of the series medal? ??

WATCH ?? #TeamIndia | #SAvINDhttps://t.co/z92KREno0C

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 22, 2023

This tradition has gained prominence during the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023. Indian fielders gestured towards the dressing room after taking catches in the tournament, fostering a culture of healthy competition among players within the cricket community.

Sai Sudharsan’s Impressive Performances In ODI Series

Sai Sudharsan showcased remarkable acrobatic skills with a stunning full-stretch dive, capturing a spectacular catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen. Sudharsan’s fielding prowess contributed to a crucial wicket of Klaasen, who scored 21 runs off 22 balls with three boundaries.

The 22-year-old made his international debut during the first ODI of the three-match series. The young batter showed an instant impact, scoring an unbeaten 55 runs in the series opener. He also scored a half-century in the second match, but the team lost the game.

The Tamil Nadu batter will represent the Gujarat Titans (GT) team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. In the last season, the southpaw scored 507 runs in 13 matches at an average of 46.09 and a strike rate of 137.03, including a 96-run knock in the final match.

Also read: IND vs SA: Sai Sudharsan Can Play For India For Next 10-15 Years – Irfan Pathan