'Where is National Anthem? What kind of management is this' - Twitter users react after Asia Cup 2023 final starts without national anthem

The much-awaited final of the Asia Cup 2023 final commenced on September 17, at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, in Colombo. Sri Lanka, defending champions, won the toss and decided to bat first against the seven-time winners India.

The rain once again played spoilsport as the match delayed the start of the game. After 40 minutes, the game began, and what grabbed everyone's attention was the absence of the national anthem. In general, both teams' national anthems would have played before the start of the Asia Cup Final. Perhaps because the match had already been delayed, it wasn't played this time.

India clinches Asia Cup title for the eighth time

India put up an outstanding performance and thrashed Sri Lanka by ten wickets to emerge victorious in the Asia Cup 2023. This marked their eighth continental championship triumph, seven in ODIs and one in T20Is. Speaking of the game, India bowled out Sri Lanka for a below-par score of 50 runs in 15.2 overs, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya's excellent bowling performances.

In the first over, India's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah provided the side's first breakthrough, removing Kusal Perera for a two-ball duck. Later, Mohammed Siraj came in and picked four wickets in the fourth over of the game. The 29-year-old got Pathum Nissanka in the first ball and dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka in the third and fourth delivery, respectively. He failed to achieve a hat-trick but managed to make one more scalp, removing Dhananjaya de Silva in the final ball of the over.

Furthermore, Mohammed Siraj removed captain Dasun Shanaka and wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, respectively, to add six wickets to his name. Meanwhile, Hardik later claimed a three-wicket haul and helped India to limit Sri Lanka to just 50 runs. India opened with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill and then the pair added 32 runs in only three overs. They subsequently successfully chased down the target in the seventh over as India won the match by ten wickets and 263 balls remaining. 

Here's how 'X' users are reacted to the National Anthem not sung in the Asia Cup Final:

Where is the national anthem????
What kind of management is this
No national anthem in final game?
Just waited for it for one hour and match started without anthem!!!!!@cricketaakash @IrfanPathan @BCCI#nationalanthem#AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/MeyE5odRfZ

— Prabhanjan Nalawade (@PRABHANJANtwets) September 17, 2023

Why no national anthem for our country🇮🇳 in today's final match 🥺?@BCCI ,@IrfanPathan ,@ImRaina

— Kirtiraj Jena (@JenaKirtiraj) September 17, 2023

Yes. No national anthem

— Niji🏏 𝕏 (@Niji_S7_) September 17, 2023

Yes. No national anthem

— Niji🏏 𝕏 (@Niji_S7_) September 17, 2023

Why is there no National Anthem in the Finals today? #Askthestars @StarSportsIndia

— Vipul Ratna Tripathi (@RatnaVipul) September 17, 2023

Why no national anthem 🤔

— bhushan chopade (@bhushan60551621) September 17, 2023

No national anthem why? Was eagerly waiting for that😔#AsiaCupFinal #INDvSL

— Satyam Kushwaha (@_satyamk36) September 17, 2023

No national anthem 😒

— neha.del (@neha_del) September 17, 2023

No national anthem?

— 🦥💉 (@dtsaae) September 17, 2023

No national anthem in final 😑

— 🅂🄾🅄🄽ᴿᵒ 🇮🇳 󱢏 (@Mr_Exotic__) September 17, 2023