Twitter Reactions: Shikhar Dhawan bats without a helmet against Hong Kong pacers

Shikhar Dhawan is back. The dashing left-hander who had an ordinary tour of England till early September, smashed a scintillating century against Hong Kong in India’s opening game in Asia Cup on Tuesday. Dhawan hit his 14th ODI ton (127) off just 120 balls as India posted a daunting total of 285 runs after being invited to bat first by the opposition.

The left-hander was so authoritative during his knock that he did not even bother to wear a helmet while taking on the Hong Kong quicks once he got his eyes in. Hong Kong’s new-ball bowlers Tanwir Afzal and Ehsan Nawaz tried to bowl bouncers at Dhawan to unsettle him but given their ordinary pace and the placid wicket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Indian opener found it easy to toy with them.

He kept on pulling and hooking the quick bowlers without wearing a head guard, something which is not seen much in the modern cricket nowadays. Dhawan’s ton also saw him equalising with another southpaw Yuvraj Singh in the list of India’s top century-getters in ODIs.

Dhawan gets out with a strike rate of 105.83

Shikhar Dhawan eventually got out in the 41st over to the off-spinner Kinchit Shah but by then India had a strong launching pad to accelerate. The left-hander hit 15 boundaries and two sixes (strike rate of 105.83) during his innings after Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath won the toss and elected to field. This is a must-win game for them as they were routed by 8 wickets in their opening game by Pakistan, the third team in the group.

For India, Ambati Rayudu, who appeared in an international match after more than two years, hit a fifty – his seventh – while Dinesh Karthik, playing this game as a batsman, scored 33. Seasoned MS Dhoni failed to open his account after he came in at No.5 and lasted just three balls. Captain Rohit Sharma also fell after a short stay, scoring 23 off 22 balls that included four boundaries. India rested Jasprit Bumrah for the game and handed a debut to Khaleel Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Twitter loved Dhawan’s swag of batting without a helmet to the fast bowlers and found the lighter side of the same.

Here’s how they reacted:

Faced England fast bowlers without bat in last test series

Now facing Hong Kong fast bowlers without helmet in Asia Cup

Shikhar Gabbar Dhawan Daww 😎 #INDvHK #AsiaCup2018

— Ashok Jammy (@AshokJammy_) September 18, 2018

Dhawan tryna be such a hero batting without helmet against the pacers even if they’re shit if u top edge it into your face it’s gona be quite painful

— David Brent bets IPL (@DavidBrentIPL) September 18, 2018

Dhawan Without helmet facing Seam Bowler …

Dei Dei Tmrw vl see u da how u faced pak seamers 😂

— Viswasam Rinesh ✍ (@Rineshraja) September 18, 2018

4D chess by Dhawan by not wearing helmet to invite 120kph bouncers which he can whack with ease.

— Coach Shastri (@LordShastri) September 18, 2018

@IamNicck Dhawan is not wearing his helmet because of the heat and humidity maybe.

— Pranjal Vashishth (@pranjal294) September 18, 2018

Dhawan playing without a helmet to a medium-pacer. I wonder if Aizaz would want to bowl a few bouncers here. #INDvHK #AsiaCup2018

— Sparsh Telang (@sparshblogger) September 18, 2018

#AskTheExperts Is it safer to play without helmets to medium pacers? Seen Shikar Dhawan & Ambati Rayudu doing the same in today's match..

— Johnsly P Varghese (@JohnslyP) September 18, 2018

@bhogleharsha is that because of heat dhawan is not wearing helmet against fast bowlers?

— Zaki uddin (@Zakiuddin5005) September 18, 2018

DHAWAN playing pacer without wearing helmet ………..
Bhai maana ki aaj Hong Kong ke saamne match Hai Lekin Kal Pakistan ke saamne khelna Hai ……Mazaaak NAA Kar !!! #INDvHK

— A D I (@DaantTodDunga) September 18, 2018

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