Twitter Reactions: Rahul, Raina’s half centuries and Pandya’s finishing act powers India to 213

The Irish captain Gary Wilson once again won the toss and made the same decision. India, on the other hand, made quite a few changes in their playing XI, like Virat Kohli had indicated. They handed Siddarth Kaul his maiden cap and there was a big surprise as MS Dhoni was rested for the game and Dinesh Karthik got in his place to keep wickets. India managed to post another 200+ total and this is the first time they’ve done that in consecutive T20Is.

Kohli opened the batting with KL Rahul who was in the team in place of Shikhar Dhawan. The skipper after scoring just 9 runs went for a big shot and hit it right into the hands of the fielder. Rahul continued his form from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and played his shots all around the park, his partner Suresh Raina also enjoyed batting on this wicket against a rather smoother bowling attack.

Rahul swatted, smashed and slayed all the Irish bowlers. He had hit as many as six sixes in his fifty and looked good for a much bigger score. He, however, fell to a very soft dismissal on the bowling of Kevin O’Brien, his 70 off 36 set them up for another huge total. The man with the golden arm got another wicket in that over as Rohit Sharma walking in at No.4 hit the ball straight to the backward point fielder for a two-ball duck.

Raina continued and got to his fifty as well but he also perished in the crucial phase of the innings. His 69 from 45 kept the team on course for a 200+ total but they had to finish well to be able to get there. Never before had the Men in Blue got 200+ totals in two successive T20Is. It was Hardik Pandya and his swashbuckling batting display that changed the record.

The Indian all-rounder dealt in sixes and hit 4 balls out of the park from the 9 he faced. He scored 32 runs in the fag end of the innings and got the team to 213/4 in 20 overs.

Here is how Twitterati reacted during the innings:

6,6,4,1

Hardik Pandya lifts India to 213/4 at the end of their full-quota. What a cameo!#CricketMeriJaan #IREvIND

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) June 29, 2018

What is Manish Pandey’s role in India’s ODI/T20I sides? #IREvIND

— Jamie Alter (@alter_jamie) June 29, 2018

First time in T20Is that India have posted 200plus in back to back matches. They score 213 today which is also their fourth highest total in T20Is. #IrevInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 29, 2018

Top finish Hardik Pandya! 32 in 9. Though bowling full to him is asking for trouble.

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 29, 2018

Zindagi mein 3 cheezein kabhi bhi aa sakti hai :

1. Susu
2. Potty
3. Sony Ten par ad

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) June 29, 2018

200+ totals in T20Is … most times
11 – South Africa/INDIA
10 – Australia
7 – England/Sri Lanka#IrevInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 29, 2018

Rohit Sharma + Manish Pandey = 21(22)

Hardik Pandya = 32(9)#IREvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) June 29, 2018

Just In : "Already scored 97 in 1st game. How much more should I score, guess that was already enough for whole series, Still more than Current Captain's Total Score, He seems out of form, guess I should take up Captaincy."

– Rohit Sharma during #IREvIND innings break (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/YAzGchAkAV

— TIMES HOW (@TiimesHow) June 29, 2018

This Indian team doesn't deserve Manish Pandey.

— The Gamechanger (@tarun_0707) June 29, 2018

Rahul is a special player…India must find a way to keep him in the XI in all three formats. My vote for him to bat at #4 in ODI. #IREvIND #EngvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 29, 2018

Hardik Pandya — 0⃣1⃣6⃣6⃣2⃣6⃣6⃣4⃣1⃣ — 32 off 9

And India post 200+ in successive T20Is for the first time. #IREvIND

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 29, 2018

The more Manish Pandey bats the more I will need blood and glucose.. because the amount I have in my body is evaporating. #IREvIND

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 29, 2018

Don't abuse on twitter, never have i abused a player.
Must admit, Manish Pandey is testing my patience.#IREvIND

— cricket freak (@cricloverakku) June 29, 2018

Manish Pandey after reaching to 100 SR! #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/Pfu2Pq24Ht

— Árüñ R€DDŶ (@ImArun_7) June 29, 2018

Manish Pandey is playing a terrible innings…

— cricketingview (@cricketingview) June 29, 2018

Conclusion of the T20I series: KL Rahul MUST play on current form. Manish Pandey MUST not play on current form.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) June 29, 2018

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