Asia Cup 2023 Final Highlights: Ishan Kishan’s Stunning Final Shot Propels India to Victory After 5 Years; India Dominates Sri Lanka with a 10-Wicket Win, Thanks to Mohammed Siraj’s Spectacular 6-Wicket Haul.
The 2023 Asia Cup, also known as the Super 11 Asia Cup due to sponsorship, marked the 16th edition of the men’s Asia Cup. The tournament featured One Day Internationals (ODIs) and was officially hosted by Pakistan. Spanning from August 30th to September 17th, 2023, the competition was held across Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Six teams participated in this edition, with Sri Lanka defending their championship title.
Notably, this Asia Cup was groundbreaking as it was the first to be hosted in multiple countries. Pakistan hosted four matches, while Sri Lanka hosted the remaining nine matches, making it a unique and exciting edition of the tournament.
Asia Cup 2023 Final Highlights: India Reclaims Asia Cup Title After 5 Years in Dominating Fashion Against Sri Lanka
In a thrilling final, India showcased their prowess to win the Asia Cup 2023, marking their return to glory after a half-decade hiatus. The match faced a brief delay due to rain, but what followed was an astounding display of cricket. The meteoric rise of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill guided India to a resounding 10-wicket victory, while the real storm on the field was named Mohammed Siraj, who orchestrated a remarkable collapse for Sri Lanka by securing six wickets in just seven overs. Hardik Pandya contributed significantly with three crucial wickets, leaving Sri Lanka all out for a mere 50 runs.
Sri Lanka’s journey to the final included a nail-biting victory over Pakistan during the Super Four stage, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited showdown with India. In the final, Sri Lanka aimed to match India’s incredible record of seven Asia Cup victories, marking their second consecutive final appearance and their 11th overall.
India and Sri Lanka hold the record for the most One Day International (ODI) encounters between any two teams, with 166 matches played. India has emerged victorious in 97 of these encounters, while Sri Lanka has secured 57 wins. Additionally, 11 matches ended with “no result,” and one concluded in a tie.
The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is renowned for its batting-friendly pitches, with teams setting the target generally enjoying more favorable outcomes than those chasing. As the game progresses, spinners tend to find support. However, the persisting concern throughout the tournament has been the rain, which disrupted several matches.
Key Highlights of the Asia Cup 2023 Final:
- Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first.
- Inclement weather delayed the start of the match by 40 minutes.
- Jasprit Bumrah struck early, taking a crucial wicket in the third delivery.
- Mohammed Siraj stole the show with a four-wicket haul during his second over, placing Sri Lanka in a dire situation.
- Mohammed Siraj’s exceptional performance continued as he achieved a remarkable six-wicket haul in just seven overs.
- In the 13th over, Hardik Pandya added another wicket to his name, leaving Sri Lanka with only two batsmen and 40 overs to go. He also secured the final wicket.
- Sri Lanka experienced a catastrophic collapse, managing a paltry 50 runs in 15.2 overs.
- India’s opening duo of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill achieved the target with a stunning 263 balls to spare, setting a new record.