India’s emphatic 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final is being hailed as a confidence booster ahead of the one-day World Cup, set to begin in two weeks on home soil.

In a remarkable display of skill, pace bowler Mohammed Siraj clinched four wickets in a single over, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s collapse for a mere 50 runs on Sunday. India’s openers, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill, effortlessly chased down the target in just 6.1 overs.

This win marked India’s eighth Asia Cup triumph and their first major tournament victory since claiming the same competition in 2018. “Siraj’s dream spell ended India’s five-year title drought,” noted The Times of India.

The India Express described the victory as a “Booster shot before World Cup” and praised the team’s “clinical and ruthless” performance. It also highlighted how this triumph has bolstered India’s morale just in time for the mega-event beginning on October 5.

In Colombo, where the final unfolded, the mood was somber. The daily FT newspaper ran a headline that read, “Abject surrender of Asia Cup by Sri Lanka.” The Sri Lankan team was bowled out in a mere 15.2 overs, and fans were left disheartened and frustrated.

Some fans shared their dismay on social media, with one fan noting that Sri Lanka had been dismissed even before they could settle into their seats at the 35,000-capacity Premadasa stadium. Another likened the duration of the Sri Lankan innings to the time it takes to consume a bottle of arak, the island nation’s signature fermented coconut or sugarcane spirit.