Siraj was quite desperate to…: Skipper Rohit Sharma reveals message to stop record-breaking spell

Mohammed Siraj was on the spot in the Asia Cup 2023 final as he bowled a seven-over spell which left Sri Lanka in disarray. No Indian has ever taken seven wickets in ODIs and Siraj looked set to break the barrier. However, skipper Rohit Sharma decided to halt Siraj’s memorable spell at 6 scalps. He has now revealed what prompted him to take a ‘desperate’ Siraj out of action.

Rohit revealed that Siraj was so desperate to keep bowling that it took a message from Team India’s trainer to make him stop.

“It was very pleasing to watch from the slips (how Siraj bowled). He got the ball to move a bit more than the other two. We were riding behind him (Siraj) when he was bowling that spell,” Rohit Sharma said.

“He bowled seven overs in that spell, and I got a message from the trainer that we have to stop him now. He was quite desperate to bowl,” the Asia Cup 2023 winning skipper chuckled.

“He bowled seven overs, which is a lot. Siraj was in a similar situation against SL in Trivandrum, and he had bowled some 8-9 overs on the trot,” he added.

Siraj’s magical spell with a 4-wicket over set the stage for India’s record-breaking win over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Rohit Sharma-led India bowled out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs and then chased the meagre total down without losing a single wicket. Siraj ended the match with the fourth best ODI figures by an Indian at 6 for 21. 

(Inputs from PTI)