India‘s dressing room Fielder of the Match award has garnered a lot of attention during the 2023 World Cup. Here is the story behind the award.

Ever since BCCI released dressing room footage of the Fielder of the Match award being presented after India’s victory over Australia in their first game of the 2023 World Cup in Chennai, the tradition has grown on fans who have anticipated for the award presentation footage to drop after every India game.

From Virat Kohli to Ravindra Jadeja to KL Rahul, several players have received the award over the course of the nine group stage matches of the World Cup. You can find the entire list here.

After India’s final league game against Netherlands in Bengaluru, fielding coach T Dilip revealed the backstory behind the origin of the award.

The story behind India’s Fielder of the Match award

Dilip said that he was pleased with the sort of attention the award was getting from the public and that the idea behind it was to acknowledge the efforts of the fielders in a manner which goes beyond just the number of catches taken or runs saved. “I think firstly, it’s truly heartening to see that the response at which the fans gave in social media,” said Dilip.

“The whole idea about this medal, what it represents is that the intent and effort, what the spirit you give, get onto the field, which may not be seen on the stats, but it can be felt by everyone who are in the stadium.

“So, what we look at is – yes, the stats, runs, saves, catches taken, is measured. But also, what value you give to the team is also counted. So, that is something, an encouraging factor we want to get into the test now.”

On being asked about how the captain and coach reacted when the idea for the award was first floated, Dilip revealed that this is a tradition which has been going on since the last four months and not just since the start of the World Cup.

“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…We are able to see the medal presentation all over in social media now in the World Cup,” said Dilip.

When the “Decision is pending” & you get the groundsmen for the BIG reveal 👌🏻🫡

Heartwarming & innovative from #TeamIndia in this edition of the Best fielder award🏅 #CWC23 | #MenInBlue | #INDvNED

WATCH 🎥🔽 – By @28anand

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 13, 2023

He elaborated that the main motive behind the award was to acknowledge and incentivize consistency on the field across the full 50 overs and not just applaud one spectacular save or catch.

“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.”

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