Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj displayed a stunning performance in the Asia Cup final, dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting lineup and earning accolades for his exceptional skills. His remarkable bowling was the highlight of the match and sparked a social media frenzy, with fans and even the Delhi Police’s social media team commending his prowess.
The Delhi Police humorously tweeted, “no speed challans for Siraj today,” suggesting that the pacer’s speed was impeccable on that memorable day.
No speed challans for #Siraj today.#AsiaCupFinals#AsiaCup2023#INDvsSL
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) September 17, 2023
Siraj’s exceptional feat included taking six wickets, a remarkable achievement in an ODI match. Jasprit Bumrah added one wicket to the tally, while Hardik Pandya dismissed three Sri Lankan batters, making the Asia Cup 2023 final a one-sided affair in favor of India. Sri Lanka struggled against the Indian bowling attack and was bowled out for a mere 50 runs.
Mohammed Siraj’s performance was truly historic, as he claimed his first five wickets in just 16 balls, setting a new record for the fastest five-wicket haul in ODI cricket history. His devastating spell occurred in the 4th over of the match, where he dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samaraiwickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya De Silva in quick succession.
Despite a delayed start due to rain, Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired as India’s bowlers dominated the proceedings. With just 50 runs on the board, Sri Lanka faced an uphill battle.
The victory in the Asia Cup final was a significant morale boost for Team India, particularly as they prepared for the upcoming World Cup, aiming to end their ICC trophy drought of 10 years. The Sri Lankan team, on the other hand, had shown confidence throughout the tournament but faced a challenging final.
Here were the playing XIs for both teams:
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul(w), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana.