Watch: Siraj wins 'Impact Fielder of the T20I Series' medal

NEW DELHI: Pace bowler

Mohammed Siraj

was awarded 'Impact Fielder of the T20I Series' for his outstanding fielding performance after India defeated

South Africa

by 106 runs on Thursday at the Wanderers Stadium in

Johannesburg

in the last T20I of the three-game series.
The other two nominees for the medal were

Yashasvi Jaiswal

and

Rinku Singh

, both left-handed batters.

Indian fielding coach T

Dilip

declared during the winner announcement that the coveted "Impact Fielder" award will now be presented following each series rather than each game.
"We know all the excellence the fielding medal has created during the ODI World Cup and credit to the boys for making it very special. Going forward, instead of presenting the medal after every game, now we are introducing 'Impact fielder of the Series'. We are recognizing the consistency, fitness, skills and impact you make throughout the series," Dilip said.

Rinku Singh was praised profusely by the Indian fielding coach, who described him as a "versatile fielder" who is essential in Twenty20 matches.
He also praised Yashasvi Jaiswal, a rookie player, for making important catches.
"He is been working hard not only in other skills but also in making sure he has enough time to practice for fielding and making sure that he is taking those crucial catches and being there at the right place at the right time," he added.

Siraj's performance in the three-game T20I series against South Africa and in the ODI World Cup was praised by Dilip.
"He is a man who has shown a lot of awareness and his skill set has been amazing that too being a fast bowler. We often talk about making a difference in the field not in just one match which he brought throughout the ODI World Cup and still it's going on. Today he made a difference on the field," he added.
The Indian pacer claimed, upon receiving the medal, that he had been waiting for it ever since the World Cup.
"I have been waiting for this from the World Cup and finally I got it. The lesson of this is never give up,"

Siraj

said.

(With ANI inputs)