Sai Sudharsan gets Impact Fielder of the Series medal for spectacular Klaasen catch

India sealed the three-match ODI series against South Africa as they beat them in the third and final game of the series on Thursday, December 21 at Boland Park, Paarl. After being put in to bat first, India posted a massive score of 296/8 in their allotted 50 overs riding on a hundred from Sanju Samson (108 off 114). In reply, South Africa were bundled out for 218 handing India a 78-run win.

The Proteas were in the game after 32 overs as they were on 170/4 with Heinrich Klaasen (17* off 20) and David Miller (4* off 5) at the crease. However, the game was turned in the 33^rd over as Klaasen chipped the ball in the air towards mid off where Sai Sudharsan completed a spectacular catch diving forward. The dismissal triggered a collapse and South Africa’s chase was derailed.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Virat Kohli heads back India for a family emergency, Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of Test series

Following his remarkable effort in the field, Sudharsan was also awarded “Impact Fielder of the Series”. In a video uploaded by the BCCI on their social media handles fielding coach Ajay Ratra was seen handing over the medal to the youngster who was in a tough competition with KL Rahul.

“There were a few notable catches during the series. Overall, we took 12 catches during the contest, with KL Rahul taking six of them. Samson took two - one as a wicketkeeper and other as a fielder. And Sai took a brilliant catch today. It was a tight decision between KL and Sai. I am always tempted to give the award to a wicketkeeper, but KL was generous enough to give the award to Sai,” said Ratra in the video.

Watch Sai Sudharsan's catch here:

Sai Sudharsan was the second-highest run scorer of the Series

Also Read: Dean Elgar to retire after India Tests

Apart from his fielding heroics, the 22-year-old also starred with the bat during the series as he finished as the second-highest run-scorer on his international debut. The southpaw scored 127 runs from three innings at an average of 63.50 and a strike rate of 89.43 with two half-centuries to his name.