The final of the Asia Cup 2023 was done and dusted in just 21.3 overs, and India ended up winning their 8th title of the Asia Cup. The Men in Blue continued their dominance in the tournament and registered a 10-wicket win courtesy of an incredible bowling spell by Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj broke a number of records in the game and also became the fourth-fastest Indian to take 50 ODI wickets. He completed the joint-fastest ODI fifers in just 2.4 overs. The pacer also took four wickets in his second over, which is the first instance of an Indian taking four wickets in an over.
He surpassed his ODI career best of 6/21 and helped India dismiss the Lankans for 50 runs in 15.2 overs. This was the lowest ODI total for any team against India. That performance gathered praise from all over the world. Even Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra couldn’t control his excitement.
He took to Twitter (now X) and tweeted, “I don’t think I have EVER before felt my heart weep for our opponents….It’s as if we have unleashed a supernatural force upon them…@mdsirajofficial you are a Marvel Avenger…”
I don’t think I have EVER before felt my heart weep for our opponents….It’s as if we have unleashed a supernatural force upon them… @mdsirajofficial you are a Marvel Avenger… https://t.co/DqlWbnXbxq
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 17, 2023
One of the fans requested that he gift an SUV to Siraj for his outstanding performance. To which he replied, “Been there, done that…” Notably, Anand Mahindra gifted a Mahindra Thar to Mohammed Siraj in 2021 when the Indian team won the BGT after Gabba heroics.
Been there, done that… https://t.co/jBUsxlooZf
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 17, 2023
He also gifted cars to Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, and T. Natarajan. Meanwhile, Siraj, who won the Man of the Match award for his performance in the final, gifted his prize money of USD 5,000 to the groundstaff for their hard work during the games played in the tournament.
He said in the post-match presentation, “. This cash prize goes to the groundsmen. This tournament wouldn’t have been possible without them.” India has now traveled back home and will take a couple of days off before starting a three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on September 22.
