Twitter Reactions: Gayle storm stalls the victory march of the Sunrisers Hyderabad

The high flying Sunrisers Hyderabad arrived in Mohali with great spirits. They were the only unbeaten side in the competition this year and hoped to keep their winning run going. However, they were hit by the ‘Gayle storm’ from the Kings XI Punjab camp that handed them their first defeat of the season. SRH could only muster 178/4 in their 20 overs, and thereby losing their first match of the season.

Earlier in the game, the Kings XI Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin had stunned everyone at the toss. He had elected to bat first and thus became the first captain to elect batting after having won the toss this season. Well, his batters did not let him down and the openers got off to a flying start. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle added 53 runs for the first wicket to set a firm base for the hosts.

Rashid Khan provided the first breakthrough for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as he dismissed Rahul on 18 (21). What followed was an absolute Christopher Henry Gayle show. The show was interspersed with some short cameos from Mayank Agarwal (18), Karun Nair (31), and Aaron Finch (14*).

Gayle absolutely bludgeoned the opposition bowlers on the day and took special liking to Rashid Khan’s bowling. In one of the overs bowled by Rashid, Gayle smacked four sixes in a row. He remained unbeaten on 104 off just 63 deliveries with a four and eleven sixes to propel the KXIP total to 193/3 in the stipulated 20 overs.

The Sunrisers, in the run chase, got off to the worst possible start with their star batsman Shikhar Dhawan getting retired hurt in the very first over. A sharp in-swinging delivery from Barinder Sran hit Dhawan’s elbow and he walked off the field. Mohit Sharma accounted for the dismissals of Wriddhiman Saha (6) and Yusuf Pathan (19) in the overs that followed in the powerplay.

The SRH camp needed someone to steady the ship and skipper Kane Williamson was joined by Manish Pandey in the sixth over of the chase. Both batsmen hit fifties in the game but the ask proved to be a little too much. Also, the aggression from their side came a little late and the Sunrisers eventually fell short by 15 runs in the game. This is their first defeat of the season.

Here is how the fans reacted to the match:

Honestly, it's ridiculous to lose a T20 game by 20-odd runs when you have six wickets in hand. #KXIPvSRH

— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) April 19, 2018

SRH last match: Beat KKR for the first time in Kolkata after losing five previous games there

SRH today's match: Lost to KXIP the first time in Mohali after winning four previous games there#KXIPvSRH #SRH

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) April 19, 2018

Fight krne ki Koshis hi nhi Ki SRH ne #KXIPvsSRH #IPL11

— Liyakat (@LiyakatDayar) April 19, 2018

Every Team has won / lost a game each now ? #IPL2018

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) April 19, 2018

Only 4 wickets down. Set guy batting on 57 in 42 stays unbeaten. Both Pandey + Williamson cost them the game. Didn't use the hitters at all. KXIP stay unpredictable and be the first time they beat SRH at home. Well captained Ash, well batted, Gayle.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 19, 2018

Pandey unbeaten at stumps #KXIPvSRH

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 19, 2018

On paper it was 15 runs between the teams. But, truth be told, @sunrisers were never really in this chase.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 19, 2018

60 needed in 18 balls. Manish Pandey on roll. Another massive single. #IPL

— cricBC (@cricBC) April 19, 2018

This is my problem with Manish Pandey. He can’t get a move on when the team requires it #KXIPvSRH

— Arvind Jha (@slainsage) April 19, 2018

Manish Pandey is all set to chase the remaining target on day 2!! #KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/PCNu27GVwP

— BrainFaden Smith (@brainfadesmith) April 19, 2018

Not even at one point you looked like playing to win the match and Manish Pandey, wow he seems to be happy to score singles and score his 50 forgetting about team's play… One of the greatest selfish innings ever

This upset is not about losing but your game plan @SunRisers

— Troll Tollywood (@Troll_Tollywood) April 19, 2018

Such a waste of money #manishpandey

— shanthiswaroop (@shanthiswaroop2) April 19, 2018

Can anyone explain what the kind of innings does #ManishPandey played today for his team?????? @SunRisers #SRHvsKXIP #IPL18

— Prasanna (@prasi_says) April 19, 2018

What was that from Manish Pandey? #KXIPvSRH

— Dallas Cricket (@DallasCricket) April 19, 2018

Irritating to watch Manish Pandey batting..he was never in touch to win it for srh..thu..#srh #KXIPvSRH

— $uDh¡R ? (@Sudhir0306) April 19, 2018

#Srh fans after meeting with Manish Pandey later #KXIPvSRH #SRHvKXIP pic.twitter.com/QDfq9ScLGh

— Monish (@Mon1sh) April 19, 2018

MANISH PANDEY – I have never seen such a waste innings in IPL history…
Apne liye khela saala..#BikGayeeGormint

— MS DHONI-FAN? (@FaizanMSD) April 19, 2018

@im_manishpandey Why for 50? Not for team? #SRH #KXIP #SRHvKXIP

— Suman Kumar Prasad (@summiprasad) April 19, 2018

#manishpandey #KXIPvSRH #VivoIPL #IPL18 pic.twitter.com/ssb0CmJvyS

— Umesh Deshmukh (@deshmukh_umesh1) April 19, 2018

A batsman who is being groomed as India's next finisher in the LOIs has played a shittier knock than the rusty MS Dhoni #ManishPandey

— Rice cake tasty (@Idly_kunda) April 19, 2018

Gayle Storm is Back !! Great entertainment provided by @henrygayle to the packed crowd at Mohali. Well Done @lionsdenkxip on the win #KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/WNDxOqtvP8

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) April 19, 2018

Deserving winners @lionsdenkxip with @SDhawan25 injury chances dimmed. @SunRisers had all the supporting role actors but the hero was missing. #KXIPvSRH

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 19, 2018

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