Twitter Reactions: Pant and Samson's heroics lead DD to a historic run chase

In what was a run-fest at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium, Delhi Daredevils managed to stay in the hunt for the playoffs with a spectacular run chase. With this loss, the Gujarat Lions are out of the contention of being in the top 4. Earlier in the day, it was captain Karun Nair who won the toss as Delhi Daredevils elected to field first. Chris Morris and Angelo Mathews made way for Pat Cummins and Marlon Samuels in the playing XI. Gujarat Lions had an unchanged XI from their last game.

Batting first, both openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum were back to the dig out in the very first over. From there on, captain Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik combined for a magnificent partnership of 133 runs coming from just 72 balls. The Delhi bowling lineup was taken away to the cleaners.

While Raina scored a splendid 77 runs from just 43 deliveries, Dinesh Karthik also made his way with a sensational knock of 65 runs from 34 balls. After them, Aaron Finch and Ravindra Jadeja played crucial cameos as Gujarat Lions posted 208/7 in their quota of 20 overs.

Leaving Kagiso Rabada and Cummins who took a couple of wickets apart, no one managed to create any kind of pressure on the Gujarat batsmen. A target of 209 seemed difficult for the Daredevils batsmen but what followed was beyond imagination.

Nair was dismissed early in the Delhi innings. That’s where the duo of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson exhibited a tremendous display of clean hitting which and it proved to be a nightmare for the bowlers. Both put up an astounding 143 runs stand from just 63 deliveries for the second wicket.

Samson scored a brilliant 61 runs from 31 balls with 7 sixes. However, the star of the day was youngster Rishabh Pant who missed out on a well-deserved century as he smashed 97 (43), an innings which comprised of 6 boundaries and 9 sixes. After both of them got out, there was little left for Corey Anderson and Shreyas Iyer to finish it off.

The lesser we talk about the bowling today, the better. No one actually stood up for the Gujarat Lions who seemed to be deeply hurt by the absence of Dwayne Bravo and Andrew Tye. Delhi Daredevils went on to win by 7 wickets with 15 balls to spare.

Here are some of the amazing Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game:

The exuberance of youth yet the calmness of veterans. What a partnership guys, Sanju Samson & @RishabPant777
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/4GU3pHXAyA

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 4, 2017

Love batsman with tremendous belief in themselves which is backed by a special ability for ball hitting.Extra Special today frm Rishabh Pant

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 4, 2017

Rishab Pant ??

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) May 4, 2017

"We were 20 runs short" – Suresh Raina.
??? #DDvGL #IPL

— Satnam ? (@imSatnam_) May 4, 2017

Commentators going on and on about 3 runs.
Like they forgot that 214 runs were scored in 17 overs!#DDvGL

— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) May 4, 2017

One of the best Innings I have seen in the IPL & that includes all 10 seasons. @RishabPant777 pic.twitter.com/SGv3YuXwJ5

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 4, 2017

Had Rishabh Pant completed his century today, he would have become the youngest centurion in IPL.

Manish Pandey's record is safe. #DDvGL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 4, 2017

What an fbb stylish and super duper Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza powered by Vivo and Gionee mdh asli masale sach sach innings by Rishabh Pant

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) May 4, 2017

I am standing outside Feroze Shah Kotla and collecting cricket balls sent for me courtesy Rishabh Pant & Samson #DDvGL

— Mrigank Tyagi (@TheMrigankTyagi) May 4, 2017

Sanju Samson played a Nitish Rana like knock, no fours just sixes… #DDvGL

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) May 4, 2017

I can literally hear Suresh Raina crying at the Ferozeshah Kotla. #DDvGL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) May 4, 2017

All the best to the person who has to cut the highlights of this game ?? #DDvGL

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) May 4, 2017

I have seen the future of Indian batting. And it's on TV right now! #Pant #Samson #DDvGL #IPL

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) May 4, 2017

Looks like the Manforce behind PANT Jersy and AC Daiken in front is giving him all the power to hit the ball and cool him? #IPL #DDvsGL

— Satish Shekar (@Satishshekar) May 4, 2017

Someone please give Dinda's ranking for the most valuable player award #DDvsGL #IPL2017

— TheGoanPatiala (@TheGoanPatiala) May 4, 2017

With the extra pace, Sangwan looks more like a poor man's Mitchell Johnson.

— Alagappan Vijaykumar (@IndianMourinho) May 4, 2017

Brilliant, so brilliant from Corey Anderson it seemed totally out of place in this DD side, maybe he'll be flogged for that fielding #DDvGL

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) May 4, 2017

Vintage @DineshKarthik love this guy well played buddy @IPL #DDvsGL

— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) May 4, 2017

200+ seems so very possible ? @AaronFinch5 at crease ? Smash it boys ?? #DDvGL

— Aravind Tyson (@aravind_tyson) May 4, 2017

This partnership between Raina and Karthik is the highest for GL, going past 112 between McCullum and Smith last year. #DDvGL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 4, 2017

IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT TO WATCH SURESH RAINA AND DK BATTING TOGETHER❤ #Ipl #sureshraina #DdvsGl

— S.H.I.K.H.A.? (@ShikhaRaina73) May 4, 2017

At the halfway stage Gujarat are well placed at 93/2. These two are turning it on! Expect Delhi to be chasing another tall target #DDvsGL

— Xpress_Sports (@Xpress_Sports) May 4, 2017

Suresh Raina has scored 5000 runs in Twenty20s on Indian soil. 2nd player after Virat Kohli to score 5000 T20 runs in a country. #IPL #DDvGL

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) May 4, 2017

Why Dwayne Smith continues to get matches despite underperforming. Jason Roy would be a much better replacement !! #IPL #GLvDD

— Manikanta Aravind? (@Ma_aravind) May 4, 2017

Marlon Samuels ran out Dwayne Smith and dropped Raina twice. #IPL

— Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) May 4, 2017

Don't think Dwayne Smith thought it would hit. Slow to stop, to turn back and no dive.#DDvGL #IPL2017 #IPL10

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) May 4, 2017

Test cricket stuff that from Rabada to dismiss Mccullum.

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) May 4, 2017