Twitter gutted over KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik's omission from the first T20I versus Ireland

The Indian cricket team is currently playing the first T20I versus Ireland at the Malahide Cricket Ground in Dublin. With short boundaries and a well-knitted pitch, an exciting match is expected to unfold. The sun was also beating down and conditions were ideal for a delightful contest between bat and ball. Gary Wilson and Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, also wanted to bowl, but that didn’t happen. Prior to the match, the predicted XI of the Men in Blue was churned out. Dinesh Karthik or KL Rahul was expected to make the eleven owing to their stupendous form in recent times. However, none of them was drafted into the playing eleven and the decision furrowed quite a few eyebrows.

The surprise selections

Rahul was in the form of life during the Indian Premier League, playing for the Kings XI Punjab. The right-hander struggled to stay put in his position in limited-overs cricket but made a serious case for himself with some breezy knocks at the top of the order in the T20 tournament. He was subsequently included into the T20I squad for the ongoing series versus the Irishmen.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik’s form has been jaw-dropping as well. His match-winning knock in the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh made him an overnight star. His onslaught in the dying stages of the match has turned out to be an indelible memory of Indian cricket. He carried over his touch in the IPL and turned out to be Kolkata Knight Riders’ fulcrum.

He also managed to retain his position in the national team. It’s a bit of a surprise that they weren’t considered and Manish Pandey was preferred instead. Twitter wasn’t happy with the team selectors and they lashed out at them for not including the cricketers in the lineup.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

I do believe the time has come to acknowledge that KL Rahul is a special talent and the more games he gets under his belt, the better his development

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 27, 2018

Surprising call. Dinesh Karthik dropped by India. He won the Nidahas Trophy with a last-ball six, has been striking at 183.69 and not out in 7 out of 9 inns since his comeback for India last year. Also scored 498 runs at SR 147.77 in the IPL. #IrevInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 27, 2018

No Rahul. No Karthik. Pandey finds a place in the XI. IPL performances were considered for the team selection but not for picking the final XI. Very very interesting indeed. #IREvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 27, 2018

The last time Dinesh Karthik played a T20 international for India……….

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 27, 2018

Dinesh Karthik gets dropped after winning the Nidahas tri-series. Manish is in XI ahead of him. No Rahul also. #INDvIRE #IREvIND

— Onkar Danke (@onkardanke) June 27, 2018

Manish Pandey ko team mein liya lekin Rahul aur Karthik ko nahi#IREvIND #INDvIRE pic.twitter.com/GQFIRLeWGS

— urstrulyKajal🇮🇳 (@BanarasiBasanti) June 27, 2018

No K L Rahul but Manish Pandey and Rohit Sharma get their spot in the playing XI..
WOW 👏👏👏@RaviShastriOfc @imVkohli #IREvIND

— Suraj (@Kanvarlaal) June 27, 2018

SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN ME WHY RAHUL AND KARTHIK IS NOT IN THE TEAM?? RAHUL SCORED TONS OF RUNS IN IPL AND KARTHIK WON YOU THE NIDAHAS TROPHY.. THIS IS SO ANNOYING!! UGGHHH… 😡😡😡😡 #IREvIND

— JD (@jadoo_79) June 27, 2018

Make him bat at no. 1,2,3 or 5,6 anywhere but please please give him more matches. We are just wasting a talent like KL Rahul. #IREvInd

— Kushal Gautam (@iTsKVG19) June 27, 2018

#IREvIND Dhoni will never let settle DK and Rahul both being keeper and RED hot form.

— Rofl_advani (@bhaktchod1) June 27, 2018

A Shocker…. No @klrahul11 in the Team?!?🤔 He had a Blistering #Ipl Season. Should be in the Team!!! @BCCI @imVkohli #IREvIND

— Iftikhar Khan®️ (@IKtheKHAN) June 27, 2018

Why are you throwing garbage in the playing XI @imVkohli ? #IREvIND #INDvIRE

— Mahesh Karthikeyan (@maheshwarrank) June 27, 2018

Just what on earth should KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik do to either find a spot in the XI or retain it?

Rahul scored 652 runs for #KXIP in #IPL2018, #DK has been in the form of his life since the Nidahas Trophy final, yet the duo don't find a spot. #IREvInd

— Suhith Kumar RN (@SuhithKumarRN) June 27, 2018

#IREvIND don't understand how come raina & pandey are in playing 11 and DK & KL Rahul warming the benches… Come on guys

— Vishal Mandavia (@MandaviaVishal) June 27, 2018

Manish pandey IN… 😂😂😂
Kl Rahul OUT… 😒😒😒
seriouslyyyy??? #IREvIND

— sharath (@sharath_DM3006) June 27, 2018