Mendis Magic in Asia Cup 2008 (photo: anthony devlin – pa images/pa images via getty images)
The 17th season of the Asia Cup is going to start. The battle to become the king of Asia between 8 teams on UAE land is going to sprinkle again. If seen in the Asia Cup, Team India’s overall record has been better than the rest of the teams. She has been the most successful team of this tournament. But despite this, during the Mains Cricket Asia Cup, a moment also came, which Team India would never want to forget. This thing is related to the Asia Cup played on the land of Pakistan in the year 2008. Then an army soldier made Team India tears in the final match of that season.
Army soldier was heavy on Team India
The final match of the 2008 Asia Cup was played at the Karachi ground. The teams of India and Sri Lanka were face to face in the title war. Sri Lanka scored 273 runs in the final by batting first thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya’s Dhundhar 125 runs. India had a target of 274 runs. But when he came out to chase him, he was not aware that he would get to see such a bad day due to an army soldier.
Mendis’s magic broke Indian batting back
The current head coach of Team India Gautam Gambhir and Virendra had come down to opening coach. There was a 36 -run partnership between the two. Fast bowler Chaminda Vas broke this partnership with Gambhir’s wicket. But after that, the army soldier Ajanta Mendis was shown havoc on Team India. Second Lieutenant Mendis of Sri Lankan army weaved such a trap of his spin that the fodder was not left in front of the Indian batsmen.
The Sri Lankan bowlers took all 10 wickets in India. He covered the Indian innings chasing a target of 274 runs in 39.3 overs. In the final of the Asia Cup 2008, Ajanta Mendis took 6 wickets out of the 10 wickets of Team India. He did this amazing giving 13 runs with 1 maiden in 8 overs, which was the best performance of his ODI career.
India lost by 100 runs in the final of the Asia Cup 2008 thanks to that career best performance of Ajanta Mendis. Ajanta Mendens was adjudged Player of the Match in the final for that strong performance.
How did Ajanta Mendis join the Sri Lankan army?
Now the question is, how did Ajanta Mendis join the Sri Lankan army? So its path also passes through cricket. In the year 2003-04, Sri Lanka’s Artillery Cricket Committee saw him playing a match against Army Under 23 Division 11, after which he was called to join the Sri Lankan army. After the initial training, Mendis became the first gunner in the Sri Lankan army. However, after a strong performance against India in the final of the Asia Cup 2008, he was made surgent and then second lieutenant.
