Former Indian player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Mohammed Siraj for making the most of hardly helpful conditions in the Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Sri Lanka. Siraj registered stunning figures of 6/21 in seven overs as India bowled out Sri Lanka for a mere 50 in Colombo on Sunday, September 17. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan then chased down the total as India registered an emphatic win with ease as well.
While reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Sensational, spectacular Siraj showed his magic. It’s not enough no matter how much you praise Siraj. I am not saying that the conditions were not helpful at all but the conditions were as helpful for Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah started it. It was a very good ball with which he took the first wicket but Mohammed Siraj just did not stop after that. The way he started, he just kept going. In fact, he picked up four wickets in an over.”
READ MORE: Virat Kohli shares the importance of maintaining diet
However, Jasprit Bumrah provided with the first breakthrough as he had Kusal Perera caught behind by KL Rahul in the first over. Siraj then dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva in his second over to reduce Sri Lanka to 12/5 and eventually finished his spell with a six-wicket haul as well.
READ MORE: “Can be the future captain of India” – Kiran More on Ruturaj Gaikwad
“He was absolutely sensational, took as many as six. If Rohit (Sharma) had allowed him to bowl all his overs, he might have taken seven or eight. Fastest five-wicket haul in terms of balls, picked up five wickets in 16 balls and four wickets in an over, and launched an attack with the new ball in subcontinental conditions,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Some deliveries were extremely good. He bowled one from the edge of the box which went away and Dasun Shanaka got bowled. That was a beautiful ball. James Anderson opened up Murali Vijay like that at Lord’s once but that was a Test match and to do that in white-ball cricket – outstanding. Then incoming balls – outstanding.”
