Twitter Reactions: In-form Punjab leggie Mayank Markande gets maiden India call for Australia T20Is

Indian selectors on Friday picked the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Australia starting February 24. While Virat Kohli returned to the squad as the captain after the break he took midway in the New Zealand series, India picked 21-year-old leg-spinner Mayank Markande in the two-match series. It is the Punjab youngster’s maiden India call-up.

Markande picked up a fifer in his last game, which was the second unofficial Test against England Lions in Mysore and helped his team secure victory by an innings and 68 runs. The bowler has been in good form of late, picking 39 wickets in his last 14 innings in first-class, List ‘A’ and other one-day games.

Markande gets his India call soon after the match with England Lions finished

The good news for Markande came soon after the four-day game against the England Lions concluded. Having made his debut in first-class, List ‘A’ and T20s only last year, Markande has played seven first-class, 22 List ‘A’ and 20 T20s so far, accumulating 99 wickets. He also has a fifty (68 not out) in first-class cricket.

KL Rahul, who has been in a poor form currently, also got a recall and the batsman will certainly have to make use of the opportunity if he fancies a chance to make it to India’s World Cup squad this year. He has also been called for the ODI series. Rohit Sharma has been included while both Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant have also found spots. Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested for the T20I series.

Australia will be led by their limited-overs captain Aaron Finch in the two-match series, which will also be India’s final in the shortest format before the WC. India drew a three-match T20I series against the Kangaroos Down Under in November as one game was washed out.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Mayank Markande’s selection

Chuffed for Mayank Markande! 😁
No Kuldeep 🤭

— Ank Mehta #45 (@The2HundredMan) February 15, 2019

Mayank Markande is a great choice for T20… https://t.co/a4bQAN9iV0

— Yudhajit Dutta (@YudhajitDutta) February 15, 2019

Mayank markande is the player to watch out for that too in Indian pitches !
Looking forward to it.

— Subham Singhania (@singhaniasubh12) February 15, 2019

Mayank markande???? What a surprising inclusion

— Cricket Pundit (@dogauseguns) February 15, 2019

Congratulations Mayank Markande for your maiden national call-up.#INDvAUS

— 🎯DEVENDRA SAINI🎯 (@DevendersainiS) February 15, 2019

India T20 squad for the upcoming 2 match series vs Australia. Along expected lines. Good call-up for young leg-spinner Mayank Markande. He was impressive in the IPL and this was prompted also by the fact that he completed a 5 wicket haul for India A vs Eng Lions #indiavsaus https://t.co/brGqDDQarc

— Akaash Dasgupta (@akaashdasgupta) February 15, 2019

Rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande picked, @imkuldeep18 rested from T20 series against Australia. – PTI

— The Tribune (@thetribunechd) February 15, 2019

Good squad ,i think kuldeep rested !!
Congrats mayank markande!!

— VK MSD ABD Vishwa (@vk_msd_abd_vish) February 15, 2019

So, @MayankMarkande gets his reward for impressive show in IPL for @mipaltan and his 5/31 for India A against England Lions while KL Rahul is back in the ODI side after the #KoffeeWithKaran fiasco #INDvAUS

— Siddharth Vishy (@sid_vishy) February 15, 2019

Mayank Markande gets his maiden India call-up for the T20I series #INDvAUS

— Priya Nagi (@priyamohannagi) February 15, 2019

It's clear now KL Rahul is the third opener. Vijay Shankar is an integral part of World Cup plans. And selectors want to keep a back-up wrist-spinner ready in Mayank Markande. Fourth choice pace bowler likely to be Umesh.

— KASHISH (@crickashish217) February 15, 2019

Mumbai Indians spinner Mayank Markande selected in Indian Squad for upcoming T20 series against Australia.

— subodh sarthi (@subodh_sarthi) February 15, 2019

Mayank Markande gets his maiden India call-up for the T20I series vs Australia.

— Tridib Baparnash (@TridibIANS) February 15, 2019

Delighted for Mayank Markande! https://t.co/tXX7tMzVJJ

— Gautam Sodhi (@GautamSodhi1) February 15, 2019

@samiprajguru Good to see Mayank Markande but Kuldeep Yadav is missing…..
Many times Kul-Cha proved that they must play together.. https://t.co/9eluK2FfFR

— ABHINAV DUBEY (@ABHINAV12649) February 15, 2019

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