Twitter Reactions: Late blitz from MS Dhoni propels India to a respectable 148

The second T20I between India and England is underway at the Sophia Gardens. After a thumping victory, the Men in Blue would’ve hoped for another strong performance with the bat. Virat Kohli, unlike the last time, didn’t win the toss and hence had to bat first. The start wasn’t a joyous one as Rohit Sharma was nipped out early by debutant Jake Ball, who replaced Moeen Ali in the playing eleven.

Shikhar Dhawan started with a scorching boundary down the leg side, but he perished to a shambolic mix-up. Eoin Morgan dislodged the bails after which the third umpire completed the formalities. In the same over, Liam Plunkett delivered the body blow with the scalp of KL Rahul, who has been in a league of his own ever since he began opening the batting in this year’s IPL.

Virat and Raina steady the ship

The onus was then on Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli to shake their team out of their funk. The duo didn’t panic and put on a partnership of 57 runs from 45 balls. The panic button on England’s part was about to be pressed when Adil Rashid pulled a rabbit out of the hat and bamboozled the left-handed Raina. The left-hander charged at him but missed the leather. Jos Buttler took off the bails without any fuss.

At the other end, Kohli trod the patient route, but there wasn’t any shortage of aplomb on his part. With seven overs, remaining, he was required to shepherd the innings. MS Dhoni was his new partner and the wicketkeeper-batsman started with a stylish boundary through square leg. He took minimum risks to start with and put on 32 runs in 29 balls. The Blue Army desperately needed some impetus.

In the 17th over, they lost Kohl, who went for a pull off David Willey but mistimed the stroke. Joe Root completed a low catch. In the last over, Ball conceded 22 runs courtesy of four boundaries from Dhoni. The final over blitz lifted the visiting team to 148 runs in 20 overs.

Here is how Twitter reacted

India paying tribute to D'arcy Short's international career #ENGvIND

— Kane Train (@CricFan2000) July 6, 2018

One of the challenges of playing away games is, you won’t get home pitches to bat on….

— Harsha Bhogle #UnlessOfCourse (@TweetsOfBhogle) July 6, 2018

Shikhar Dhawan just showed me my life #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/d9KRGxVGet

— TheStumpCam (@theStumpCam) July 6, 2018

I admire KLR's strokeplay, but if he wants to be one of the modern greats, he needs to quickly learn to assess conditions and bat according to that. You won't be getting roads everyday. #INDvENG

— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) July 6, 2018

If it is road, Rohit will hit you,
If it ain't road, Bhuvi will swing at you. #Sorry 😅🏃#INDvENG #ENGvIND

— Tabrez (@its_tabrez_) July 6, 2018

About a year now since india hit a boundary.#ENGvIND

— cricket freak (@cricloverakku) July 6, 2018

Me too Mahi bhai now.

Please bachalo bhaiya.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/scImtSZvdX

— Kulyaa Fan 🏏 (@cricdrugs) July 6, 2018

Dhoni-Kohli running between the wickets is Yo-Yo!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 6, 2018

Which team does MS Dhoni plays for exactly? #ENGvIND

— BrainFaden Smith (@brainfadesmith) July 6, 2018

Lol dhoni

— cricket freak (@cricloverakku) July 6, 2018

One thing with both Dhoni-Virat at the crease… if they bat long, it should be a running b.w wickets masterclass… If you are a budding cricketer, you should be tuned in right now! #EngvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) July 6, 2018

Y'kno what takes Kohli so long to come to the crease these days

He takes an Uber.#EngvInd

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) July 6, 2018

Dhawan in the first game and Rohit in the second. Gotta applaud the gesture of these two to get out early and make KL Rahul feel like he is opening the inn so he bats comfortably. #ENGvIND

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) July 6, 2018

Bounce. Movement. Just the man England want in the middle:

Raina.#ENGvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) July 6, 2018

MS Dhoni becomes the first wicket-keeper batsman to appear in 500 international matches.#ENGvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) July 6, 2018

We need to play Karthik or Pant instead of MSD.Waste many balls in T20's. #ENGvIND

— Sparsh Bhardwaj🇮🇳 (@iamSBhardwaj) July 6, 2018

MSD back to form. #ENGvIND

— Saketh Ram (@csakethram) July 6, 2018

#ENGvIND when dhoni will hit SIX pic.twitter.com/zgutXlB4II

— Rajat (@rajatpandey8294) July 6, 2018

Playing at the SR of 81. Dhoni Disasterclass at its peak #ENGvIND

— Siva 🏴🇫🇷🇧🇪 (@SivaOffl_) July 6, 2018

I feel jake ball should be only a test bowler all he can do is bowl line and length at pace people line that up easy PLZ England drop him forever in the limited overs squad PLZ #engvind

— harry header kane (@llapskywalker) July 6, 2018

Sometimes rather than blaming batsmen we should appreciate the efforts of bowlers.#EngvInd

— Akshay🎲 (@letstweetAkshay) July 6, 2018

How useless is Jake Ball? Very. #ENGvIND

— Static_357 (@Static_a357) July 6, 2018

Ball bowled a No Ball#ENGvIND

— Siddharth KumarSingh (@siddharthk63) July 6, 2018

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