South Africa T20I series: Tilak Varma crowned best fielder

Johannesburg: Following India’s remarkable T20I series victory 3-1 over South Africa, India squad member Tilak Varma was awarded the best fielder of the series. Ravi Bishnoi was awarded best fielder of the last match of the series, Asian News International reported.

After Stand-in fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh requested captain Suryakumar Yadav to select the winner of the fielder of the series award, the legendary SKY declared Tilak Varma. Stand-in head coach VVS Laxman awarded Varma the medal, and the latter reacted by saying, "I want to say one thing, Rinku's God's plan," dedicating the award.

It was during India’s World Cup campaign last year that the tradition of the best fielder award was started.

In the fourth T20I match against South Africa, captain SKY opted to bat first after winning the toss, and the decision made the team successfully destroy the opponent by 135 runs. The team delivered an exceptional performance to SKY throughout the match.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings, forging a solid 73-run partnership. Abhishek played a dynamic knock, hitting two fours and four sixes, before being dismissed by Lutho Sipamla in the sixth over.

Following the opening by Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, they together scored 73 runs before the latter departed. Then, the star fielder of the series, Varma, arrived and joined Samson in the carnage. Both scored quick hundreds to take the team total to 283/1.

Varma smacked 10 sixes and nine fours to accumulate an unbeaten 120 off 47 balls while opener Samson hammered 56-ball 109 not out studded with nine sixes and six fours to take India to an astronomical total in 20 overs.