Twitter Reactions: KL Rahul blitz takes Daredevils by surprise, KXIP register easy win

The renewed Kings XI Punjab setup started off their IPL 2018 campaign on a high. They beat the spirited Delhi Daredevils in their first game of the season. Playing at Mohali, the hosts got everything going their way on the day. At the toss, their skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin, opted to bowl first. The track promised to be a belter since it was a day game with the sun beating down straight.

The Delhi Daredevils had a very poor start to their innings with young Mujeeb ur Rahman dismissing Colin Munro cheaply in the third over. Rahman, who became the youngest player to play in the IPL, took only three deliveries to take his first IPL wicket. Soon, KXIP bagged two more wickets in Shreyas Iyer and Vijay Shankar. Meanwhile, the DD skipper Gautam Gambhir played the counter attack.

Gambhir rallied past his fifty and found some very good support in Rishabh Pant. Pant stepped on the accelerator to score a quick 28 off 13 deliveries before Rahman dismissed him to bag his second of the game. Gambhir perished after a well compiled 55 as well. Chris Morris provided the final flourish for the Daredevils with an unbeaten 27 off 16 deliveries to take the total to 166/7 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Rahman was the pick of the bowlers for Kings XI Punjab with figures of 2/28 to his name. The target of 166 could have been tricky but the Daredevils found themselves facing a storm. KL Rahul blasted his way to the fastest IPL fifty, taking just 14 balls to reach the milestone. His 16-ball 51 put the Kings in a commanding position in the runchase. Despite the twin failures of Mayank Agarwal and Yuvraj Singh, the Daredevils could not come back in to the game.

Karun Nair scored a fine 50 off 33 deliveries to guide the run chase. In the end, Marcus Stoinis and David Miller played sensible knocks to to see the Kings over the line. In the end, David Miller and Marcus Stoinis played unbeaten knocks to steer the team home on the day. Kings XI Punjab won the game by 6 wickets.

Here is how the fans reacted to the Kings XI Punjab win:

@klrahul11
Deserved 11 crore … aisa lagtha hai #RCB ka gussa nikal raha hai#KXIPvDD

— Shri (@Shashi7774) April 8, 2018

Nice to see @GautamGambhir supporting #Mishra even after @klrahul11 destroyed him. That's what a bowler wants from his captain. #IPL2018 #IPL11 #KXIPvDD

— Nikhil Patni (@nikhilpatni) April 8, 2018

Mohammed Shami's wife after his performance today. #KXIPvDD #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/O3nZz2mbVN

— .Halwaai. (@tomnjerrytwo) April 8, 2018

Mohammed shami has a IPL economy over 9 and average over 35 but still DD management uses rtm for him . This DD management sucks. #KXIPvDD

— Ash (@Ayadav1808) April 8, 2018

Mohammed Shami carrying his off field form on to the field. #VivoIPL2018 #KXIPvsDD

— #CSKFan (@Cricketerhater) April 8, 2018

Fastest 50 in @IPL the bar gets pushed yet again, this time by #KLRahul ,and he did it with proper shots #KXIPvDD #IPL2018 #BadriBytes

— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 8, 2018

Has the pitch changed character or is has it been exceptional batting from the Kxip batsmen especially @klrahul11 have made this chase look simple so far #VivoIPL2018

— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) April 8, 2018

That’s the beauty of IPL. We haven’t finished two matches yet and we have already seen 2 young spinners create an impact. Yesterday it was Markande and today Mujeeb was excellent. #KXIPvsDD

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 8, 2018

DD might be 15 runs short in setting the target. Fastest ever #IPL fifty by KL Rahul is certainly not going to help their cause. #KXIPvsDD superb batting display

— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) April 8, 2018

KL Rahul … Fastest ever #IPL 50 … 14 balls !!!!!!!! #Carnage

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 8, 2018

Mujeeb Ur Rahman …. 17 yrs old …. from Afghanistan …. 2-28 on his #IPL2018 debut ….. Fantastic to watch ….

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 8, 2018

Gambhir’s run out came at very wrong time for DD @IPL @StarSportsIndia

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 8, 2018

I have always believed that Ravi Ashwin is the best captain India never had, Let's see how Kings 11 perform in this IPL #DDvKXIP

— Retarded Writer (@retardedwriter) April 8, 2018

Ravi Ashwin used to bowl first over at chepauk in the yellow brigade how cruel is life? ? ?#KXIPvDD #BESTvsBEST

— Choda Writes ✒ (@ImoRoflme) April 8, 2018

A new record in the name of KL Rahul. #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/OHmHsGpzDx

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) April 8, 2018

Make the required changes, keep chasing and KXIP can have a good tournament.

— IPHell Analyst (@CricAussieFan) April 8, 2018

That's it from Mohali as the @lionsdenkxip win their first home game by six wickets.#KXIPvDD pic.twitter.com/mpae7tzam4

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2018

Another young spinner from Afghanistan. Again impressive on a big stage. #MujeebZadran

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2018

Well done, KXIP. Their investment in a solid Indian core will prove to be a good one. Just not sure about their bowling just yet. #KXIPvDD

— samreen (@SamreenRazzaqui) April 8, 2018

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