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On This Day In 2023: Rohit Sharma Redeemed His Captaincy With India's Clinical Asia Cup Triumph

Rohit Sharma led India to Asia Cup 2023 title [X]Rohit Sharma led India to Asia Cup 2023 title [X]

On this day last year, India crushed Sri Lanka by ten wickets to add another Asia Cup title to their illustrious trophy cabinet. Under Rohit Sharma's astute leadership, the Men in Blue displayed remarkable skill and perseverance to outclass the home side across departments. This was India's eighth Asia Cup win, as they became the most successful side in the tournament's history. 

Mohammed Siraj's Lethal Spell Left Sri Lanka Shell-Shocked

India and Sri Lanka entered the 2023 Asia Cup final as the two best teams following their exploits in the Super Four stage. While India topped the table, Sri Lanka claimed the second position based on an inferior Net Run Rate. So, given that both teams registered equal wins in the second round, a nail-biting clash was expected in the final at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. 

However, Rohit Sharma's decision to use Mohammed Siraj with the new ball paid rich dividends for the Men in Blue, as the ace speedster rattled the Lankan top order with a magical bowling spell. After Jasprit Bumrah dismissed the dangerous Kusal Perera, Siraj began his onslaught on Sri Lanka, removing the in-form Pathum Nissanka in his first over. And as they say, the rest is history. 

The Sri Lankan batters had no answer to the Hyderabad seamer's thunderbolts as they made their way back to the hut one by one. As a result, the home side crumbled like a pack of cards, with Rohit Sharma's men bowling them out for a paltry 50-run total. 


Rohit Promoted Ishan As India Chased The Target Inside Seven Overs

As the target was a mere 51, Rohit Sharma promoted youngster Ishan Kishan ahead of himself to open the batting alongside Shubman Gill. The dynamic duo wasted no time to seal India's remarkable victory, helping them chase the target in 6.1 overs. Gill struck 27 runs off 19 balls with six glorious boundaries, while Ishan remained unbeaten on a quick-fire 18-ball 23. 

Why Was The Asia Cup 2023 Victory Significant For Rohit Sharma?

India's Asia Cup triumph was significant for Rohit Sharma as it helped him extend his captaincy stint with the national side. The stylish Mumbaikar faced massive backlash after India's underwhelming performances in the 2022 Asia Cup and World Cup editions. 

Furthermore, Rohit looked out of sorts during the IPL 2022, with Mumbai Indians finishing at the bottom of the points table. So, the Asia Cup title not only helped Rohit regain his self-confidence but also prompted the BCCI to persist with him as the Indian captain. It eventually paid off for the Men in Blue, as he led India to their second T20 World Cup title a year later.