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As the Indian opener took three important catches during the World Cup league stage victory over New Zealand, she received a special fielding medal inside the dressing room.
Smriti Mandhana wins fielding medal in Indian dressing room. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
Smriti Mandhana stood relieved and excited upon receiving her maiden fielding medal inside the Indian women’s team dressing room on Thursday, October 23. The Indian opener backed her superlative century with three catches in the outfield in the hosts’ much-needed triumph over New Zealand at the ICC Women’s World Cup in Navi Mumbai.
For her magnificent all-round effort, the vice-captain was rewarded with a special medal by the fielding coach, Munish Bali. The moment was captured in a video unveiled by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and shared among fans after the team’s critical win that secured their place in the tournament semifinals.
Having identified multiple candidates for the medal, Bali picked out Mandhana for her three important catches from the game against the White Ferns. As India strived to defend their huge score of 340/3 in a rain-interrupted fixture, Mandhana took the catches of a well-set Amelia Kerr on 45 and helped dismiss New Zealand’s lower-order pairing of Jess Kerr and Rosemary Mair, giving teammates Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma their deserved breakthroughs.
In the video, one could see how excited Mandhana got the moment Bali called out her name, before the humorous Jemimah Rodrigues took over from the fielding coach and said, “That girl has tried to bribe Bali sir for long. Mujhe medal do, mujhe medal do (give me the medal, give me the medal). But today she has earned it with three catches.”
Rodrigues then handed over the medal to Mandhana amidst huge applause from their teammates.
Acknowledging the medal, Mandhana noted, “I can’t believe mujhe medal mil raha hai. Apne team main jab se medal chalu hua hai 2.5 saal main pehli baar mila hai (can’t believe I’m getting the medal. It’s been two and a half years since the medal was launched, and it’s the first time I am receiving it).”
Earlier in the video, Bali also appreciated the fielding efforts from the previous game’s defeat against England, where he said multiple fielders contributed.
The coach picked out skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur as two candidates for the medal before Rodrigues helped him out, saying both deserved the honour.
Harmanpreet then bestowed the medal on Kaur in a wonderful gesture.
Navi Mumbai, India, India
October 24, 2025, 18:18 IST
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