In the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka in Colombo, India’s fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj, emerged as the center of attention due to his exceptional bowling performance. Siraj, known for his right-arm fast deliveries, displayed his mastery in swinging the white cricket ball to devastating effect.
His remarkable work ethic was duly rewarded as Sri Lankan batsmen found themselves perplexed and struggling to come up with effective strategies to counter Siraj’s extraordinary deliveries. Hailing from Hyderabad, Siraj played the role of the primary destroyer, wreaking havoc with the new ball and claiming an impressive total of 6 wickets.
This performance marked a milestone in his One-Day International career, as he achieved his personal best bowling figures. Notably, the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, initially intended for Siraj to bowl his entire quota of 10 overs. However, the Indian team’s management stepped in, concerned about overburdening the bowler ahead of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023.
In a viral internet video, Siraj was captured celebrating his wicket in a style reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration. After dismissing the Sri Lankan skipper and making a mess of Dasun Shanaka’s stumps, Siraj playfully mimicked Ronaldo’s signature celebration. This gesture garnered global attention, with popular football pages circulating images of the event online.
Mohammed Siraj’s exceptional performance placed him in an elite group of Indian bowlers, becoming the eleventh to achieve a six-wicket haul in One-Day Internationals. He was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling display, which completely altered the course of the game.
Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj hit the Cristiano Ronaldo celebration during the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka 🐐🔥 pic.twitter.com/HQ16FcCCGW
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 18, 2023
Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj hit the ‘siuuu’ during the Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka 🇮🇳😮💨 pic.twitter.com/8bwTqjiZQ5
— 433 (@433) September 19, 2023
His match-winning spell led to Team India dismissing Sri Lanka for a mere 50 runs, marking Sri Lanka’s lowest-ever total against India in ODIs and their second-lowest team total in ODIs to date.
