Some of us are probably still trying to grasp what just took place today (17) evening at the Asia Cup Final. Rest assured, because this is far from just a dream. Rather, a nightmare that truly happened.
What we witnessed today was not just cricket; it was a tragicomedy that left us wondering if we had been transported to the middle of a pitch in a parallel universe.
When we thought that the delay due to the rain would be the only worst thing that could happen on the pitch, little did we know that this rain delay was just the calm before the storm.
The Sri Lankan team, after a long and arduous journey, managed to score a whopping 50 runs in 15.1 overs. Yes, you read that right—50 runs. It was almost as if they were trying to set a new record for the lowest score in a final.
Now, let us talk about the coin toss. The decision to bat or bowl is a crucial one in cricket, and winning the toss usually brings a sense of advantage. However, it is questionable whether we received any kind of advantage despite winning the coin toss. Credit should go to the captain of the Sri Lankan team for making a responsible decision.
But with the heartache that followed, one might wonder if those who paid a hefty 95,000 rupees to witness this Asian Cup final would have preferred to run away and spend that money on something more enjoyable, like eating or an amusement park.
In summary, the Sri Lankan team’s performance can be described as follows: they came and they went as if they were in a hurry to get home sooner than the spectators were.
The top scorer for Sri Lanka was Kusal Mendis with 17 runs, while Dushan Hemantha managed to scrape together 13 runs. As for the rest of the team, well, let’s just say their contributions were less than 5 runs and most of them were no runs at all.
On the other side of the pitch, the Indian bowlers were having a field day. Mohammad Siraj took a stunning 6 wickets for just 21 runs, and Hardik Pandya chipped in with 3 wickets for a measly 3 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, not wanting to be left out of the party, joined in with a solitary wicket for 23 runs.
India effortlessly scored 51 runs without losing a single wicket in just 6.1 overs. It was a defeat of epic proportions, a 10-wicket loss that left us all in disbelief.
Adding insult to injury, Rohit Sharma, one of India’s star players, did not even bother to step into the field. Instead, Ishan Kishan was sent out to bat alongside Shubman Gill. In the first three overs, they averaged a staggering 10.42 runs.
All in all, we knew that facing India would be a formidable challenge, but we were hoping for a defeat that at least had a touch of dignity befitting a final. Alas, what we got was a spectacle that left us questioning the very integrity of the match.
Thus, this only leaves us questioning the reality of this match that took place today (17). Did they sell the match? Or was luck (or talent) just not on our side today?
Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, this Asian Cup final will go down in history as one of the most baffling and bewildering moments in the world of cricket.
