• Mohammed Siraj equalled Chaminda Vaas' record of the quickest five-wicket haul in international cricket.

  • Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan and other veteran cricketers heaped praises on Siraj over his magical spell in the Asia Cup 2023 Final.

Cricket fraternity erupts as Mohammed Siraj creates havoc in Asia Cup 2023 Final – IND vs SL
Mohammed Siraj equals Chaminda Vaas' record of quickest five-wicket haul (Image Source: Twitter)

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The cricket world stood in awe as India’s fiery pace bowler Mohammed Siraj etched his name into the annals of cricket history during the Asia Cup 2023 Final against Sri Lanka. Siraj showcased a spellbinding display of pace and precision in the contest that left the cricket fraternity erupting with excitement. The 29-year-old bowler claimed a sensational five-wicket haul in the blink of an eye within the three-over spell, equalling the legendary Chaminda Vaas‘ record for the quickest ODI fifer.

The collapse of Sri Lanka

The day had begun with Sri Lanka winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, what followed was nothing short of a cricketing spectacle. Sri Lanka’s top order crumbled, with wickets falling like a house of cards. Kusal Perera‘s early dismissal marked the beginning of a cataclysmic collapse for the Sri Lankan side. By the time they reached 12 runs on the scoreboard, six wickets had already fallen, and it was evident that something extraordinary was unfolding.

The Siraj Show

What made this collapse even more remarkable was that five of these wickets were claimed by the relentless Siraj. The Hyderabad-born cricketer started off with a mesmerizing spell of fast bowling, and the statistics tell the story itself as his five-wicket haul came within a mere 16 balls, equalling Vaas’ record that had stood since 2003. Notably, the Sri Lanka veteran had achieved the feat against Bangladesh.

In a spell that will be remembered for years to come, four wickets for Siraj came in a single over, making him the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat in ODI cricket. This over left the Sri Lankan camp in shambles, struggling to come to terms with the sheer brilliance of Siraj’s bowling.

Siraj’s performance not only catapulted India into a commanding position in the Asia Cup 2023 Final but also sent shockwaves through the cricketing world

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The reactions from veteran cricketers and experts

As news of Siraj’s incredible performance spread like wildfire, the cricketing fraternity erupted in celebration. Many veteran cricketers, including the likes of Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Wasim Jaffer, took to social media to laud the pace sensation. They praised his relentless aggression, his ability to swing the ball both ways and his impeccable line and length.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.