COLOMBO: Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 6-21 to lead India’s rout of Sri Lanka by 10 wickets as they clinched their eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday.
Siraj got four wickets in one over to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 50, a total the Indian openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill surpassed in 6.1 overs for an impressive victory ahead of next month’s ODI World Cup at home.
The home team made one change with all-rounder Dushan Hemantha coming in for injured Maheesh Theekshana.
India's Mohammed Siraj, right, celebrates with Virat Kohli, left, and Shubman Gill after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka during the Asia Cup 2023 final one-day international (ODI) cricket match against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on September 17, 2023. (AFP)
Sri Lanka came in as underdogs but edged out Pakistan in their last Super Four encounter to book a meeting with India in the 50-over tournament final.
India’s Washington Sundar replaced Axar Patel, who was injured in India’s loss to Bangladesh in an inconsequential Super Four match at the same venue.
Sundar, an off-spinner who bats left-handed, joined the team on Saturday.
Big guns including Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah were back in the Indian team after being rested.
TEAMS
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
