Twitter Reactions: Led by Virat Kohli, India thump Sri Lanka by 5 wickets

MS Dhoni was the home skipper in this game and Sri Lanka’s stand-in Angelo Matthews called the wrong side and Dhoni was quite sure they wanted to bowl first. India was in with one change as fit again Shikhar Dhawan walked in back for Ajinkya Rahane who managed a duck in the chance he got against Pakistan. Sri Lanka still didn’t have Lasith Malinga and the bowling attack in his absence was never going to be good enough to trouble India.

The Indian new ball bowlers Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah once again delivered and gave Sri Lanka early blows. Hardik Pandya who is playing the role of the 3rd pacer in the team did his part as well and got the important wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan who was starting to look dangerous. Pandya got another wicket before finishing his spell. Indian spinners came into the act soon after but that gave the Siriwardana-Kapugedera pair an opportunity to score. Their 43-run stand took them from a hundredish total to 138.

Though the wicket behaved differently it was too little to challenge the Indian batting might. The ball moved when it was new even in the second inning and Nuwan Kulasekara got rid of both the Indian openers in quick succession. Suresh Raina batted with some more confidence but got out before he could score something substantial. The Virat Kohli – Yuvraj Singh partnership flourished thereafter and the two won India the game. Yuvraj though got out towards the end after his 35-run cameo off just 18 balls, next man in Pandya was foxed by veteran Rangana Herath bowled for 2. Skipper Dhoni walked in next and hit a six to blow the slightest rays Sri Lanka had of building pressure. Kohli in the end, hit a boundary to finish off the game in style. He also scored his 13th T20I half-century in the process and equaled the record for most in the format.

Needless to say, India have qualified for the final of the Asia Cup since it is the only team that is unbeaten in the tournament thus far.

Here is how Twitter hailed the Indian team for their commanding win:

.@YUVSTRONG12 delights his fans after playing a sensational knock in the chase (35 off 18) #IndvSL #AsiaCuphttps://t.co/amIqoloSmX

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2016

A Kohli fifty in chase.
Dhoni at the other end.
India qualify for #AsiaCup final.

Thanks for coming, SL! #INDvSL

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/AltCricket/status/704710821860024320

Kohli's form makes for an even more scintillating viewing given it's coming on different brands of pitches.#INDvsSL #AsiaCupT20

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) March 1, 2016

5th Consecutive T20 win for India

India now Qualified to Asia Cup finals like a Boss!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 1, 2016

Kohli vs SL in T20Is:
68 (48)
77 (58)
56* (47)

50+ in all 3 innings. #IndvsSL #AsiaCupT20

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 1, 2016

Very strange captaincy to see siriwardana bowl the 19th over. What was angelo thinking? That too against dhoni and virat! Super again virat.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 1, 2016

India become the first team to book their place in the #AsiaCup final, beat Sri Lanka by 5 wkts. Who will be their opponents? #INDvSL

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 1, 2016

Virat Kohli brings up his 13th T20I fifty. #AsiaCupT20 #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/4mVI2Re5YI

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 1, 2016

India with 3 wins in 3 games have qualified to the final of the #AsiaCupT20 2016.
Their 8th T20I win in 2016 in 9 games!
Away: 6-0#IndvsSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 1, 2016

Closer than expected. Top gun Kohli stars again but best takeaway from match was Yuvi shrugging off rustiness & reveal some vintage form

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 1, 2016

The mother always believes that games cannot finish until #Dhoni comes..hence Pandya had to go.

— Shruti Chopra (@itstarot) March 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/AltCricket/status/704707854364762112

https://twitter.com/SAMPATH_B24/status/704703177136824320

Runout off free hit
Stumping off wide
For those who are bored of regular wickets#INDvsSL #AsiaCupT20

— Ankit Mishra (@editedidea) March 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/AltCricket/status/704679088590622721

Run out of a free hit is like committing suicide by violently sitting on your own balls. #IndvSL

— cricBC (@cricBC) March 1, 2016

Bowl a no ball
Give a free hit
Get a run-out
Just for a change#INDvsSL #AsiaCupT20

— Ankit Mishra (@editedidea) March 1, 2016

Harsha: "For god sake VVS, can you pronounce one name correctly?"

VVS: "Yes, of course, Arsha. I try, I onestly try."#IndvSL

— Ani (@AniJaju) March 1, 2016

The catch to dismiss Dinesh Chandimal was MS Dhoni’s 50th dismissal as wicketkeeper in T20Is. #AsiaCupT20 #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/800zttPQ4F

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 1, 2016

India to seal a spot in the finals tonight…though that would mean the end of #AsiaCup for the defending champions. #IndvSL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 1, 2016

What tips you reckon is @HaydosTweets giving to @YUVSTRONG12 #IndvSL #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/tg5hLwTVDM

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2016

There was a controverisal decision in Sri Lanka’s inning and Twitter world was furious – Twitter Reactions: Twitter comes hard at the umpire after a poor stumping decision