The whole idea behind fielding medal was to encourage consistent performance in ODI cricket: T Dilip

Team India’s decision to identify the best fielder and honour him after each ODI World Cup game has been a tremendous success as all the cricketers are giving their best to win the medal. Multiple videos of the same went viral on social media as the fans loved the behind-the-scenes after a win. Speaking about the same, India’s fielding coach, T Dilip explained that the process started four months prior to the competition but only came to the limelight during the marquee tournament.

He further added that the reason behind this move was to encourage all the cricketers to give their all while fielding for 50-overs. He mentioned that it is not only about taking a brilliant catch in the park but one needs to be consistent with the effort or the intensity to win the medal.

“So, the whole idea actually started and you are seeing the medal in the World Cup. But this idea we started four months back, where we started to declare the best fielder award in the dressing room in every game. Just at the medal and we are able to see the medal presentation all over in social media now in the World Cup,” Dilip was quoted as saying by India Today.

“But the whole idea was to make sure that we not only encourage or talk about that brilliant catch but also the consistent performance in a 50-over game, which is very important because 300 balls, how you carry that consistency, whether it is catching or effort or intensity, is what we want to get that important going. So that was the main reason behind getting this medal,” he added.

Notably, Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged as the best fielder in the match against Netherlands. The team management once again arranged a grand gesture as the ground staff declared the winner at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were in contention as well but Suryakumar was given the medal following his brilliant effort in the second innings.