Watch: Virat Kohli divided on seeing Axar Patel shocked after being named best fielder

Virat Kohli couldn’t control his laughter when he saw Axar Patel shocked to find himself nominated for the best fielder award after the India vs Afghanistan match on Thursday (June 20). India put up another fine performance in all three departments of the game as they defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs to secure victory in the end.

Once again, the tradition of best defensive player awards continued after the match as defensive coach T Dilip was proud of the players’ performance. The defensive coach praised the team’s situational awareness during the match as they got off to a perfect start in the Super 8 stages. Dilip then revealed the nominees for the award, with Arshdeep Singh being the top contender . Ravindra Jadeja was the second contender for the award before Dilip moved on to Axar.

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The all-rounder was in shock to hear his name and the expression on his face made Kohli laugh.

Axar had taken over to remove the dangerous Azmatullah Omarzai. The final contender for the award was Rishabh Pant, who took a total of 3 catches in the match. In the end, the award went to Jadeja and was presented by Indian coach Rahul Dravid.

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How did the India vs Afghanistan match go?

India opted to bat first after winning the toss. The innings started on a shaky note as they lost Rohit Sharma early. However, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant managed to build a promising partnership before both were dismissed in quick succession. Suryakumar Yadav then took charge, stabilizing the innings and finding a great partner in Hardik Pandya.

Suryakumar’s impressive knock of 53 runs, combined with Hardik’s valuable 32, helped India post a competitive total of 181 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The two added a crucial 60 runs together, ensuring India had a strong score to defend.

Afghanistan’s chase started poorly, as Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian bowlers struck early, reducing them to 23 for 3. Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to revive the innings, but Bumrah’s exceptional bowling, giving figures of 3 for 7 in 4 overs, and Arshdeep Singh’s equally impressive 3-wicket haul ensured India’s dominance. Afghanistan ultimately failed, with India securing a 47-run aggregate victory.

India’s next challenge will be against Bangladesh on June 22.