Siraj's six-wicket haul engulfs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023 final
New : In a stunning display of pace and precision, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj rattled Sri Lankan batting lineup, taking India to a resounding 10-wicket win in the Asia Cup final. Siraj's six-wicket burst for just 21 runs left Sri Lanka reeling at a paltry 50 runs.
As India's young openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan easily completed the chase in just 6.1 overs, India secured the coveted Asia Cup title in style.
Siraj's journey to stardom reads like a dream, reminiscent of a Tollywood blockbuster. Hailing from a humble background as the son of an auto-rickshaw driver in old Hyderabad, Siraj overcame numerous obstacles to become an integral part of the Indian cricket team. His extraordinary mental resilience was evident when he delivered a series-defining spell in Melbourne shortly after his father's tragic passing.
The meteoric rise of Mohammed Siraj in the past four years has seen him surpass established bowlers like Mohammed Shami in limited-overs formats, becoming Jasprit Bumrah's new-ball partner. His remarkable statistics, particularly in ODIs, speak for themselves, boasting 53 wickets in just 29 games at an astonishing average of 19.11 in 50-over cricket. In 2023 alone, Siraj has claimed 29 wickets, outperforming all other pacers from full-member teams.
With Bumrah by his side, Siraj forms a potentially lethal bowling combination for India, making them strong contenders for the upcoming World Cup.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 50 all out in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3) lost to India 51 for no loss in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27 not out, Ishan Kishan 23 not out) by 10 wickets.
