Siraj’s reign of terror

With brother Ismail watching from the stands, Mohammed Siraj produced a spell of hostile fast bowling that would have had the former tapping a foot in appreciation. His combative spells had the Sri Lankan top-order hoping and weaving, and he conceded only one boundary in his seven overs, 21 dot balls underlining just how uncomfortable he was to face in Colombo's overcast conditions.

The 29-year-old returned figures of 6-21 to lead India's rout of the co-hosts by 10 wickets as they took home their eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday. Siraj scalped a five-wicket haul off merely 16 balls, equalling the world record for the quickest five-for held by legendary Chaminda Vaas. His clever variation of pace and canny use of swing and seam were the foundation of a performance that was not match-winning alone, but was also eye-catching. No Indian had ever previously taken a four-wicket haul in a single over in a one-dayer.

Siraj celebrated his feat with delight, running down the wicket with his arms outstretched, but otherwise remained poker-faced throughout, perhaps moved to pity by Lankans' ineptitude, who knows!

Also Read: Asia Cup final 2023: Rohit Sharma hails team for emphatic win over Sri Lanka

Heading into the Asia Cup 2023 and throughout, the bowling was repeatedly stated as one of the many weak links in the Indian team. They reaffirmed those fears as they let debutants Nepal score close to 300 during a group stage match. Although it was a comfortable win in the end, thanks to the raingods for a timely intervention, the bowling showed some gaping holes and it looked like every Indian's fear was about to come true. Against Sri Lanka in the Super Four, India made a hash of an easy score and allowed the Lankans some respite in the middle-overs, which, in reality, the Men in Blue should have won with ease.

But the rise of Siraj came at the right time under the right circumstances. That he found a willing accomplice in India's ‘chinaman' Kuldeep Yadav could work wonders for the side at the forthcoming 50-over cricket's showpiece event. The miserably low total by the 2022 champions left a nearly packed house disappointed as they could not witness beyond 116 minutes of play.

Conventional wisdom suggested that Sri Lanka would not go down easily against a fired-up Indian side. The Blue Army, on the other hand, knew all too well how potent Lanka's unpredictability can be in big matches. But what unfolded in the final was unexpected as the Dasun Shanaka-led side fell like a pack of cards after they elected to bat first.

Sri Lanka were unable to cope with the Indian attack, failing to cross even the 100-run mark. "This performance was as abject and miserable as the weather here. What an embarrassment it has been!" Lalith Hettigoda, a die-hard Tillakaratne Dilshan loyalist, told Mid-Day. There was plenty more of the same to follow.

Coach Chris Silverwood, although disappointed, vowed to remain positive regardless of the defeat. "It was a shame to finish the way we did. It's one of those things we can't dwell on too much because we've got a big tournament coming up. There are lessons to learn and questions to be asked in the dressing room," he said at the post-match press conference. "Maybe this is just a wake up call, that for us to compete against teams like India, Australia, and New Zealand - those types of guys - we have to be on top of our game."

It was about a score so ordinary, but a finish so extraordinary that it will surely be replayed until the files corrupt and the tapes wear out. Only that the stage here was Colombo and the actors were India. Each time the bowlers ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka's batting order, they seemed to question whether this was the worst Lankan team to have played the Asia Cup.

For India though, that was, it seems fair to say, the greatest one-day cricket match ever played. No, it was not the outcome. The final was all about Siraj, a gradual crescendo from the depths of 4-4 to the final ball of the innings. It was his pace that asphyxiated the sophisticated Lankans one after the other. It was about the maniac running, the laughs, the madness, the elation, the pathos, and the contentment at last.

Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Charith Asalanka were the victims of Siraj's first blitz. He once again cashed in on the opening to pry out wickets in a cluster and, with some help from Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, made light work of the tail. Kusal Mendis offered some resistance, hitting three boundaries before becoming Siraj's sixth victim.

In front of a full house at Sri Lanka's largest stadium and likely millions at home in India, the Men in Blue finally delivered the ultimate prize in the 50-overs format. This triumph was a culmination of a 365-day blueprint by Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid, and one they hope will inspire the next generation of cricketers.

The nerves and the holding of nerves, the waiting and the elation.

Two teams, one trophy, and a million hearts won!