Player of the match is a big award in cricket. In the early days, it was given to the batsman or bowler who scored the most runs or took the most wickets, but over time it has changed considerably and is now based on the impact of the player’s performance depending on the situation of the match. Many times players have been given this award because of their tremendous fielding as well.
In T20 matches, batsmen are often awarded player of the match on the basis of strike rate because in this format you cannot bat slow, so strike rate is given more importance in this format.
Sometimes short but aggressive innings played by the batsmen makes the difference between the two teams. Today we will talk about two such batsmen who won the player of the match award while playing lesser balls in a T20 International match.
Dinesh Karthik was named Player of the Match after facing only 8 balls
Who can forget the final match of the Nidahas Trophy, the final match of this tri-series was played between India and Bangladesh, where Dinesh Karthik won the match for India on the last ball with his tremendous batting.
Chasing Bangladesh’s target of 167, India needed 34 runs in the last two overs to win, and Dinesh Karthik hit Rubel Hasan for 22 runs in the 19th over and the matter came down to the last over.
India needed 5 runs to win off the last ball and Dinesh Karthik hit a brilliant six to take India to a thrilling victory. In this match, Karthik scored an unbeaten 29 runs in just 8 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes. He was adjudged Player of the Match for this brilliant inning.
Asif Ali
Asif Ali became the first player in T20 World Cup history to get the player of the match award despite playing less than 8 balls. He did this feat against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 group stage match.
In this match, Pakistan needed 24 runs in the last 2 overs, and in such a situation, Asif Ali took care of Pakistan’s victory and in the 19th over itself, by hitting 4 brilliant sixes against Karim Janat, with one over remaining, Pakistan got a surprise victory.
Asif was awarded the player of the match award for his brilliant innings of 25 runs not out off 7 balls.
