Mohammed Siraj’s Asia Cup Brilliance Spotlights His Significance

Mohammed Siraj’s Asia Cup Brilliance Spotlights His Significance Mohammed Siraj became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets in one over in international cricket during the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka. He achieved this feat in the 3rd over of the Sri Lankan innings, dismissing Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawckrama, Charith Asalanta, and Dhananjaya de Silva in succession.

Siraj had a brilliant tournament in the Asia Cup 2023, picking up 10 wickets in 6 matches. He was also named the Player of the Match in the final against Sri Lanka. It was a match-winning performance that helped India lift their eighth Asia Cup title. Siraj’s achievement is also a testament to his growth as a bowler in recent years. He has become one of India’s most reliable bowlers in all three formats of the game.

In a stunning display of skill and precision, Mohammed Siraj delivered an unforgettable performance during the Asia Cup 2023. With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Siraj’s four-wicket over left spectators in awe. The sheer dominance and control exhibited by this exceptional athlete were nothing short of extraordinary. The opposition was left reeling as In a remarkable display of his evolution as a bowler, we bear witness to a true testament of skill and determination.

Asia Cup 2023: Siraj’s four-wicket over – A testament to his growth as a bowler

The premier pacer produced a masterclass over, where he troubled the opposition batters with both inswingers and outswingers as Sri Lanka were half down for just 12 in 4 overs. After starting with a maiden, Siraj continued to bowl from the other end as he was asked to bowl the fourth over of the innings. On the first ball of the over, Siraj got the better of Pathum Nissanka. The ball nipped back in for the batter and he was forced to play it but failed to keep it down as Ravindra Jadeja grabbed an easy catch. Sadeera Samarawickrama played a dot on the second ball.

Siraj struck back on the third delivery with an inswinger which hit Samarawickrama’s pads as the batter also took the review but ended up wasting one for his team. Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka’s hero from the Pakistan clash, became Siraj’s third victim. On the fourth ball of the over, the premier paceman pitched it a tad full as the southpaw played it on the point where Ishan Kishan grabbed an easy catch. Dhananjaya de Silva faced the hat-trick ball and managed to deny Siraj a hat-trick with a boundary on mid-on. The pacer was so pumped at as he ran hard towards the boundary to stop it but failed. However, he bounced back in style to dismiss Silva on the sixth ball with a brilliant outswinger as the batter edged the ball behind the stumps to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.

Siraj’s Four-wicket haul – How it unfolded

“Last match against Sri Lanka I took first 4 wickets but unfortunately could not get 5 then. I realised then after that, “jo nasseb mein hoga, wohi milega” – If it is in my destiny, I will get it,” Siraj told the broadcasters at the mid-innings break.

“I focused on line and length only and let ball do the rest. To be honest, in white ball cricket the ball initially swings and it did swing a lot today, there aws a good amount of swing, and tried to let the batter play the drive and get wickets with the outwinger, which I generally do not get, but it happened for me today,” he added.

He scripted history and joined the likes of Chaminda Vaas and Ali Khan to claim a fifer in ODIs in 16 balls.

Fastest fifer in ODIs

• 16 deliveries – Chaminda Vaas vs Ban, 2003
• 16 deliveries – Ali Khan vs Jer, 2023
• 16 deliveries –Mohammed Siraj vs SL, 2023

Most wickets in the first 10 overs for India in an ODI (Since 2002)

• 5 – Mohammed Siraj vs SL at Colombo in 2023
• 4 – Javagal Srinath vs SL at Johannesburg in 2003
• 4 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs SL at Port of Spain in 2013
• 4 – Jasprit Bumrah vs ENG at The Oval in 2022
• 4 – Mohammed Siraj vs SL at Trivandrum in 2023

Mohammad Siraj’s Humble Beginnings

Mohammed Siraj’s story is what dreams are made of, as it is an inspiring rag to riches tale. From being an autorickshaw driver’s son to being the leading wicket-taker for India during their second Test series win in Australia, Siraj has seen it all. He made his First-Class debut during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season for Hyderabad. In the 2016-17 season, Siraj picked up 41 wickets in 9 matches and was the highest wicket-taker for Hyderabad.

Siraj was also the highest wicket-taker during the 2017-2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy after picking up 23 wickets in seven games. Siraj came to the spotlight after being bought for 2.6 crores by Hyderabad during the 2017 season of the Indian T20 league. He switched over to Bangalore for the 2018 season and picked up 11 wickets in that season. In October 2020, he became the first player in the history of the Indian T20 League to bowl two maidens during the four-over spell. His first taste of international cricket came in 2017, during a T20 match against New Zealand.

Siraj dismissed Kane Williamson in the encounter but also went for 53 runs in his four overs. Siraj’s first day at the 50-over format was an expensive one as well, as he conceded 76 runs against Australia in 2019. He was a part of India’s Test squad for the series against West Indies in 2018, but he had to wait two more years to make his debut. Siraj made his Test debut against Australia in December 2020. He played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the series, as he picked up 13 wickets in the three games that he played and was also the leading wicket-taker for India in that series. Siraj improved in ODIs in 2021 and 2022, becoming the Indian captain’s go-to bowler after early international disappointments in white-ball. His hard work paid off when Siraj became the top ICC ODI bowler on January 21, 2023.