Twitter Reactions: Shikhar Dhawan's sublime 90 takes India to 174 against Sri Lanka

The new look team India arrived in Colombo for the series opener of the Nidahas Trophy 2018. The Indian team are being tagged as the pre-tournament favorites to lift the tri-series trophy that involves Bangladesh apart from hosts Sri Lanka. Coming to the first game, the Indian management looked clear on their intent of trying out the bench strength.

With the seniors not being a part of the squad, the series came as an ideal opportunity for the youngsters to step up and show their skills at the highest level. On the other hand, team Sri Lanka came in to the game as the underdogs with the agenda of finishing their lackluster cricketing season on a high. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s dismal run with the bat continued as he perished in the very first over bowled by Dushmantha Chameera. A sensational grab from Jeevan Mendis sent Rohit packing on a duck. Suresh Raina, the seniormost member of the side, was cleaned up on 1 by Nuwan Pradeep in the very next over. India needed a rebuild and the men with the task in hand were Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey.

Both batsmen took their time to settle in. Post the eight over, Dhawan got a serious kick off. His intent to up the ante looked evident. On the other hand, Manish struggled to fight his way through. He was dismissed on 37 off 35 deliveries. Meanwhile, Dhawan’s magnificent form continued with the bat even after he had reached his fifty mark. Rishabh Pant got a promotion ahead of Dinesh Karthik.

Pant, who is renowned for hitting big shots, looked rather pale on the day. Shikhar Dhawan, on the other hand, had picked up sublime touch. He was unfortunate to have been dismissed on 90 in the 18th over. His knock came off just 49 deliveries with 6 fours and as many number of sixes. Dinesh Karthik’s final flourish of unbeaten 13 runs and Pant’s run-a-ball 23 saw India finish with 174/5 in their stipulated 20 overs. For the hosts, Chameera was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/33.

Here is how the fans reacted to the Indian innings:

Fifth duck for Rohit Sharma in T20Is, second against SL
India won 1, lost 3 whenever he scores duck in T20Is#SLvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 6, 2018

Dhawan's averages v SL:

Tests – 71.20 (10 inns)
ODIs – 70.21 (16 inns)
T20Is – 49.25 (5 inns)#SLvInd

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 6, 2018

And played Dhawan. Shutting up many mouths. Go on.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 6, 2018

By the time you figure what channel the match is on, Rohit and Raina are off.#SLvIND

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 6, 2018

You gotta feel sad for KL Rahul.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/k6xHAShacZ

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 6, 2018

*Hosts ‘Nidahas’ trophy to commemorate 70 years of independence from foreign rule.*

*Tournament has all-foreign cheerleaders.*

How not to cry?#SLvInd

— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@andrewffernando) March 6, 2018

Most ducks for Indian players in international cricket in last five years:

12 – ROHIT SHARMA*
12 – Ishant Sharma
11 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10 – Virat Kohli #SLvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 6, 2018

What nonsense… Rishtey Cineplex telecasting Cricket.. Star Sports should telecast "Don No.1" #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/w5HgDBBW9N

— Suheil Merchant (@suheil_merchant) March 6, 2018

Refreshing kit change for the Lankan boys.. Shades of the 90's. #SLvIND

— ASAD ULLAH QASIM (@asad_q78) March 6, 2018

Rishabh Pant successfully clearing the thirty yard circle with his huge shots.#INDvSL

— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 6, 2018

Pic1 Rishabh Pant in domestic cricket.

Pic2 Rishabh Pant in International cricket.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/GE0mWKYYGZ

— Chetan Khatavkar (@ChetanK1007) March 6, 2018

Rishabh Pant is so early into his shots, some of the backswings were begun in the last IPL

— Kyaare Settinga?! (@knittins) March 6, 2018

Rishabh Pant 18 in 20 balls, truly a potential replacement for Dhoni. India's future in safe (slow) hands.

— Ojas Korde (@Ojasism) March 6, 2018

Every body is telling is give a chance for Rishabh pant instead of Dhoni what he is doing there taking singles of every ball at depth overs ,how can Dhoni is comparable with him ,Chinna thala dhoni#INDvSL

— Naveen rathod R (@NaveenGR15) March 6, 2018

Ok..Might be too early for this but Rishabh Pant is a proper slogger..He hasn’t played a shot that a batsman would play in 21 ball innings so far…#IPLWonder #Slogger

— Aashish Mishra (@Imaashi25) March 6, 2018

Imagine Dhoni playing a Rishabh Pant like innings, and we would have had ‘legends’ like Agarkar and Manjrekar asking for his retirement! Well, that’s also because, people notice such experts only with such comments. Not that Pant is not good. #IndvSL

— Nikhil Kharoo (@nkharoo) March 6, 2018

That's the problem with youngster they want money and fame but don't want to perform @RishabPant777 u disappointed a lot. #SAvIND #NidahasTrophy

— Ankit Modi (@ankitmodi25) March 6, 2018

A wicketkeeper from the past and a wicketkeeper of the future batting together. Both trying to be successors to the legacy that is MS Dhoni. #NidahasTrophy

— Manya (@CSKian716) March 6, 2018

Indian Players scoring 90s in T20Is :

90* Virat Kohli
90 Shikhar Dhawan#SLvIND #NidahasTrophy2018 #NidahasTrophy

— CricketEngineer (@CricketEngineer) March 6, 2018

Pant's innings slowed it down a bit but India managed to post a defendable total, thanks to Dhawan.

— Abhay Gupta (@Abhay00) March 6, 2018

174 – is the highest successful run chase at Premadasa Stadium – by three sides (India twice and Pakistan once!)
Sri Lanka's target tonite: 175#SLvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 6, 2018