India vs Sri Lanka Score Asia Cup 2023 Final: India Win Title After 5 Years
India vs Sri Lanka Score, Asia Cup 2023 Final Match: Mohammed Siraj's six wickets catapulted India to a win.
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India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final of the 2023 Asia Cup.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 50 runs.
Mohammed Siraj picked up six wickets – four of them coming in a single over.
In the chase, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan took India over the line in 6.1 overs.
With this victory, the men in blue have lifted their eighth Asia Cup title.
Asia Cup 2023: India won the final by 10 wickets.
(Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)
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India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: One Last Hurdle
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, Live Cricket Score of Asia Cup 2023 Final Today’s Match Live Updates: With the World Cup looming large, the 2023 Asia Cup – in some sectors, if not all – was seen as the ideal preparatory campaign for the teams. Terms such as 'fine-tuning', 'SWOT analysis' and 'experimentation' were being iterated.
Yet, in about an hour's time, all such terms will become redundant, for the 22 players who will step out on the R Premadasa Stadium grass in Colombo, will only have one checkbox on their to-do list – to produce their best-ever performance today.
For India, it will be an opportunity to clinch their eighth Asia Cup title, whilst Sri Lanka will be fighting for their seventh, which will see them equal India's tally.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: ICYMI – Washington Sundar In, Axar Patel Out
India were dealt with a blow ahead of the match, as it has been announced that spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel is nursing a quadriceps strain, ruling him out of the final.
Washington Sundar, the 23-year-old all-rounder from Chennai, has been roped in as his replacement. He has played 16 ODI matches, picking up as many wickets and scoring 233 runs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Injury Troubles in Sri Lankan Camp, Too
Along similar lines as India's, the Sri Lankan team is also dealing with injury troubles. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who is almost regularly seen bowling with the new ball, has been ruled out of the final.
Although the defending champions have called up all-rounder Sahan Arachchige as his replacement, it is likely that Dushan Hemantha, the 29-year-old leg-spinner who also is an excellent deep fielder, will get a place in the playing XI.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Sri Lanka Win Toss
The news from the centre is – Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka has won the toss, and the defending champions will be batting first.
"It seems like a good wicket, there will be some turn in the afternoon," Shanaka said after winning the flip of the coin.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma commented "We would have batted first too, (but) we are confident of chasing down whatever Sri Lanka put on the board."
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Washington Sundar In Playing XI
Stuff of dreams for Washington Sundar! He was not even a part of the 17-member squad, but now, will be competing in the final as he has been named in the playing XI. Meanwhile, those rested for the match against Bangladesh are also returning.
India Playing XI – Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Hemantha Replaces Theekshana
As we had predicted, leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha is replacing the injured Maheesh Theekshana in the Sri Lankan playing XI. The local lad will be aiming to produce a memorable performance at his home ground.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Drizzling!
And, here comes the rain! Although the covers have been called on, don't be worried, for it only seems like a light passing drizzle.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Still Raining
We are 11 minutes past the starting time, and it seems we are in for a significant delay, as it is still drizzling in Colombo. The ground is now entirely covered.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Rain Stops
Don't get too excited, but the latest update is a positive one – rain has stopped and the sun is out again. Meanwhile, the covers are now starting to come off. We should not be far from ball number 1.
Umpires will be out for an inspection at 3:30pm.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Action Starts Soon
The umpires have had their inspection, the covers are now entirely off, the players are coming out, and the bottomline is – action starts at 3:40pm. Hopefully, rain is not waiting around the corner anymore.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Excellent First Over
WICKET!
This has been an excellent first over from Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian pace spearhead generated outswing on all of five of his first six deliveries, with one of those deliveries catching a thick outside edge off Kusal Perera's bat, before KL Rahul took a good catch diving to his left.
Sri Lanka – 7/1 after 1 over.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Maiden Over
Mohammed Siraj's deliveries are flirting with Kusal Mendis' outside edge, but they have not made contact yet. Nonetheless, the second over turns out to be a maiden.
Sri Lanka – 7/1 after 2 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Both Way Bumrah
The Sri Lankan batters are at their wit's end, as Jasprit Bumrah swinging the ball both ways. Another good over from India's perspective, resulting in only one run.
Sri Lanka – 8/1 after 3 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Siraj Strikes Four Times
FOUR WICKETS IN ONE OVER!
Calamity for the Sri Lankans, euphoria for the Indians. Mohammed Siraj gets into the act, and how? By picking up four wickets in the same over.
Firstly, he lures Pathum Nissanka into playing a cover drive, but the batter finds Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.
Then, an excellent inswinger traps the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama leg before wicket.
The third wicket was action replay of the first, as Charith Asalanka was lured into a drive, only to place his shot straight into the hands of Ishan Kishan at cover.
The fourth wicket came from an outswinger, as Dhananjaya de Silva tried to swing his bat more out of blind hope than anything else. Ultimately, he could only edge the ball, with KL Rahul taking another catch.
Dream start for the Indians. We are only four overs into the match, but they might be sniffing a victory already.
Sri Lanka – 12/5 after 4 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Let It Sink In
We all need a breather here. What on earth just happened?
Final of the continent's apex cricket competition, contested between the two most successful teams of the tournament, and one team is struggling at 12/5? Has it been exceptional bowling from India, reckless batting from Sri Lanka, or a combination of both?
Take a minute to wrap the scoreline round your head. Let it sink in.
Scoreline – 12/5 after 5 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: SIUUUUUU!
SIXTH WICKET!
Mohammed Siraj brings out the SIUUUU, and why should he not? A few hours after his inspiration, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal to remember, the Indian pacer has produced the spell of a lifetime.
Yet another outswinger, and this has dismantled Dasun Shanaka's stumps. With this, he records his career-best figures in ODI cricket.
Sri Lanka – 13/6 after 6 overs.
Mohammed Siraj has picked up 5 wickets already.
(Photo: PTI)
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: What Next?
Not much to report about from the last couple of overs. Jasprit Bumrah conceded four runs, before Siraj 'almost' caught the outside edge of Dunith Wellalage on at least three occasions.
The crucial question now is – what next for Sri Lanka? Where do they go from here?
Score – 18/6 after 8 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: First Big Over For SL
Jasprit Bumrah's fifth over turns out to be the first big over for Sri Lanka. 12 runs came from the over, with Kusal Mendis – who has had the best seat to watch the capitulation of his team – hitting a couple of boundaries.
Sri Lanka – 30/6 after 9 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Almost Another Wicket
ALMOST!
Could have been, should have been a sixth wicket for Siraj. Kusal Mendis nicks an outswinger which travels towards the first slip, but it fell a few inches ahead of Virat Kohli. Had KL Rahul went for another dive, he could have completed his third catch of the match.
Sri Lanka – 31/6 after 10 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Hardik Introduced
Jasprit Bumrah's first spell has come to its conclusion as Hardik Pandya is introduced into the attack. The latter looked good in his first over, conceding two runs.
Sri Lanka – 33/6 after 11 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: CR7, MS6
SIXTH WICKET FOR SIRAJ!
Mohammed Siraj gets his sixth scalp and brings out the SIUUU again. Kusal Mendis, who was Sri Lanka's last hope for launching a retaliation, is now taking the long walk back to the pavilion after being bowled by Siraj. Dushan Hemantha, introduced in the team for his leg-spin, is now out for a batting session in only the 12th over. What a spell this has been!
Sri Lanka – 39/7 after 12 overs.
Mohammed Siraj brings out the SIUUU.
(Photo: PTI)
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Hardik Strikes
EIGHT DOWN!
Hardik Pandya has decided he cannot miss out on the fun anymore, throwing his hat into the ring in his second over. A sharp bouncer unsettles Dunith Wellalage, who gets caught in two minds, neither offering a shot nor opting out of one. Ultimately, the ball strikes his gloves before being caught by KL Rahul.
Sri Lanka – 40/8 after 13 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Freebies
Virat Kohli is doing all he can to help Sri Lanka get to a respectable total. What should not have been more than a couple became six runs, courtesy of an overthrow from the former Indian captain.
Sri Lanka – 49/8 after 14 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Kuldeep In
Absolutely no respite for Sri Lanka. Mohammed Siraj's spell might be coming to an end soon, but India's most effective bowler till last match, Kuldeep Yadav is now introduced into the attack. One run comes from his first over.
Sri Lanka – 50/8 after 15 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: ALL OUT!
ALL OUT FOR 50!
Siraj was taken out from the firing line, but that did not end Sri Lanka's capitulation. Instead, Hardik Pandya ended up dismissing both Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana in consecutive deliveries to bowl Sri Lanka out for just 50 runs.
India need 51 runs to win. Yes, you read that right, the target is 51 runs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: New Opening Pair
Now then, India have opted for a new opening combination today. Considering the low target, skipper Rohit Sharma has given up his place to Ishan Kishan, who needs runs under his belt.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: India Start Well
The first over, alongside the opening combination, has proved India are looking to get over the finish line in a hurry. Seven runs came from the first over, including a four off Shubman Gill's bat.
India – 7/0 after 1 over.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Ishan Into The Act
And now we know why Ishan Kishan was promoted to open the innings, as the youngster smashes back-to-back boundaries off Matheesha Pathirana's first over. At the end of the second over, India are 17/0.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Sumptuous Shubman
A cover drive, a push between point and cover, and a pull – three textbook cricketing shots, all of those resulting in boundaries for Shubman Gill. As if, he is telling the Sri Lankan batter 'Look, this is how one should negate swing.'
India are 32/0 after 3 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Spin Introduced
With the pacers being taken to the cleaners, Dasun Shanaka has turned to his in-form spinner, Dunith Wellalage. The youngster concedes two runs in his first over.
India – 34/0 after 4 overs.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: INDIA VICTORIOUS!
CHAMPIONS!
India have won the Asia Cup in style, recording a 10-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in a match that lasted only a little over two hours!
Mohammed Siraj's six wickets will be spoken about for a long, long time. Kuldeep Yadav's revival will be cherished. The form of two veterans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will make the Indian fans optimistic.
No two tournaments are the same, but given the manner in which India have won the Asia Cup, fans will be harbouring dreams, be it cautiously, of winning the World Cup.
Like always, we will bring you all live updates from the World Cup. And before that, the Asian Games. Till then, go and rejoice today's win. Adios!