Image: Suryakumar Yadav stunned Dhruv Jurel by awarding him a fielding medal / © The Cricket Lounge
After India’s dominant 150-run victory over England in the fifth and final T20I, a heartwarming moment unfolded in the dressing room. India’s fielding coach, T. Dilip, introduced the “Impact Fielder of the Series” award, which was to be presented by captain Suryakumar Yadav.
To everyone’s surprise, Suryakumar bypassed Varun Chakravarthy and unexpectedly awarded the medal to Dhruv Jurel, who had limited opportunities in the series, playing just two innings and scoring 6 runs. His fielding efforts, however, had caught the eye of his captain and coach.
Jurel, visibly stunned by the gesture, was deeply moved by the recognition. The Indian team had just sealed a 4-1 series win with a massive total of 247/9, propelled by Abhishek Sharma’s scintillating knock of 135 runs off 54 balls, which set multiple records, including the second-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian (17 balls).
England, in response, struggled to chase the target, being bowled out for a paltry 97 runs in just 10.3 overs. Jurel’s surprise medal added a special touch to the celebrations, highlighting the importance of fielding contributions in cricket.