Asia Cup 2023: Siraj has to be given a lot of credit, he is coming off age – Rohit Sharma after clinical show against Sri Lanka

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was all praise for fast bowler Mohammed Siraj after Team India registered a clinical win of 10 wickets in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday, to lift their eighth title. Sri Lanka was skittled out for their second-lowest total in ODI format for only 50 runs after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

Dasun Shanaka-led team was blown away by Indian fast bowlers, especially Mohammed Siraj, who returned with his best bowling ODI figures of 6-21. Siraj got the ball to move both ways in overcast conditions and breathed down the neck of the Sri Lankan batters.

It was complete domination from the Indian pacer as he got four wickets in the fourth over of the innings. Siraj accounted for Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka. Siraj also became the second joint quickest to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs (16 balls) and matched former Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas’ record.

Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “ Yeah was a great performance. To come out and play like that in the final shows the mental character. Great start with the ball and clinical finish with the bat. I was standing in the slips, and something we take pride in – our seamers have been working really hard. Very very clear in their mind. It was good to see that. Such a performance we will cherish for a long time. I never thought it’s going to do that much. Comes down to the skillset of individuals. Siraj has to be given a lot of credit. Rare for seamers to move the ball in the air and off the pitch. He’s coming off age.”

Sharma added that they ticked the right boxes in the continental tournament and gave credit to the batting unit for putting up their hand in challenging conditions.

He added, “We did everything we could’ve achieved as a team in this tournament. Look forward to the series that is coming up in India, and then the World Cup. The way Hardik and Ishan batted in that pressure situation against Pakistan, and then KL and Virat got hundreds. The way Gill has been batting. Guys have stood up at various stages.”

India will now take on Australia in a three-match ODI series before the World Cup.