The cricket world was overjoyed when India emerged victorious against New Zealand in the 21st match of the ODI World Cup 2023. The highly anticipated encounter was held at the iconic HPCA stadium in Dharamsala and witnessed the Men in Blue register their fifth consecutive win in the ongoing tournament.
Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli were the standout performers for India in their victory. Shami bagged a brilliant fifer with the ball, while Virat scored a sensational 95 runs during the chase. The duo’s contribution played a vital role in India’s win over New Zealand and ended the team’s 20-year wait of defeating the Blackcaps in an ICC event. Shami even won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant spell.
The viral clip and confusion
Following India’s convincing victory over New Zealand, an intriguing video clip started circulating across the internet. The thumbnail of the video depicted Shami handing over his ‘Player of the Match’ award to his fellow teammate Virat Kohli. Accompanying the viral clip was an overlaid text on the thumbnail with caption, “Mera Award Virat Ko (I am giving my award to Virat).” This unexpected act left many fans in a state of bewilderment, prompting a surge of curiosity and questions.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma passionately hug each other after India’s victory over New Zealand
Fact-Check: Did Mohammad Shami really hand over his ‘Player of the Match’ award to Virat Kohli?
To clear the air and uncover the truth behind the viral going clip, our team conducted a thorough fact-check, and the result shows that the image made for the false video is a complete fabrication. Nothing of the sort took place during the post-match ceremony. Contrary to the video’s claim, Shami did not hand over his ‘Player of the Match’ award to Virat.
Shami’s reaction upon India’s win while receiving ‘Player of the Match’ award
After the match, Shami expressed his happiness and contentment over his contributions to the team’s victory. The right-arm seamer spoke about the confidence he gained after taking a wicket on the first ball of his spell, and he emphasized the importance of supporting his teammates when they are doing well. He also emphasized the significance of team performance and shared his happiness about India’s position at the top of the table in the tournament.
“Got a lot of confidence after taking a wicket on the first ball. If your teammates are doing well, you should support them; it’s important that the team performs well, I understand that. It was important to pick those late wickets; you always want your team to be the top side. Very happy that I got those wickets, and India is on top of the table,” said Shami.
