Twitter Reactions: Shreyas Iyer’s pristine 96 lights up Kanpur as DD take the win

22-year-old Shreyas Iyer played the innings of his life to guide Delhi Daredevils home in a nerve-racking game at the Green Park in Kanpur. Chasing 196 against the Gujarat Lions, Delhi’s innings was off to the worst possible starts as they lost two quick wickets of in-form batsmen Samson and Pant in the second over of the chase.

Iyer, who usually opens in white ball cricket, has been confined to the No. 4 spot all season by the Daredevils think-tank. He walked out to join Karun Nair in the middle and the duo sewed up a 57-run partnership which came off just 34 balls to resurrect Delhi’s chase. After Nair’s dismissal, Daredevils lost Samuels and Corey Anderson in quick succession but Iyer seemed to be unflustered by the fall of key wickets as he looked focused to not close the shop.

Brathwaite came in and hit a couple of boundaries before skying one up in the air which was taken by the bowler Kulkarni himself. His departure was like the last nail in the coffin for Daredevils as they needed a further 75 runs to win from the last 6 overs with just 4 wickets in hand. Iyer was still batting out there on 58 and had sussed out the pace of the wicket but was running out of partners.

The Mumbaikar was joined by No. 8 Pat Cummins. Iyer decided to take it upon himself to get Delhi home as he cut Sangwan for consecutive boundaries at the start of the 15th over. Iyer’s chutzpah had a contagious effect on Cummins as he struck the last two balls of the same over for two consecutive boundaries. Kulkarni started the next over, his last of the night, and was immediately targeted by Iyer as the right-hander hit him for three fours on the bounce. Suddenly, Delhi’s chase gathered momentum as 29 runs were scored from 9 balls. The target slowly started to look within the realms of possibility.

With 44 to win from 24 balls, Raina looked befuddled. Faulkner was summoned to bowl the all important 17th over. Iyer knew that he had to target the Australian and so he did. After Cummins hit his fellow countryman for a six off the first ball, Iyer deposited Faulkner over long off for an 81 meter hit. He followed it up with a crisp drive past the mid off fielder to take 21 runs from the Faulkner over.

With 23 to win from 3 over, Delhi now had a vice-like grip on the game but there had to be a twist in the tale in this pulsating contest. Iyer, one hit away from a well-deserved hundred, was clean bowled off an immaculate yorker by Basil Thampi with Delhi still 7 runs afar from the target. The Kanpur crowd was agog in support of their ‘home’ team.

But it was not to be for Gujarat Lions; Amit Mishra arrived at No. 10 and struck consecutive boundaries to close the game. Iyer’s counter-attacking innings of 96 needed just 57 balls and was studded with as many as 15 boundaries and two maximums.

Here are some of the best reactions from the 50th match of IPL 2017:

Legacy of youngster missing well deserved century continues, earlier Rahul Tripathi then Rishabh Pant & now today Shreyas Iyer. #DDvsGL #IPL

— Sports Preachers (@SportsPTweets) May 10, 2017

Looking at #RahulDravid celebrate this win is so satisfying. #DDvGL #DDvsGL #GLVDD #GLvsDD #cricket #ipl #VIVOIPL

— Adarsh Agarwal (@adi_1323) May 10, 2017

There is always a career changing innings in a young batsman's life. Let's hope this one is Shreyas Iyer's.???#GLvDD

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 10, 2017

What a win boys! What smile on face of the coach who built a team from scratch. Take a bow Rahul Dravid. #GLvDD

— Ankit Jain (@indiantweeter) May 10, 2017

Indian batsmen to James Faulkner: "We've smashed you enough in our life." #GLvDD

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) May 10, 2017

While Shreyas Iyer was brilliant, it was Mishy bhai who stole the show towards the end! ?? #DDvsGL

— Kiran (@kskirun2090) May 10, 2017

Disappointing to lose today. Have lost many close games this season. But credit to Shreyas Iyer for an outstanding innings.#GLVDD

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 10, 2017

You get brilliance & inconsistency from youth. #DD rode on their brilliance but didn't invest in experience to cover for their inconsistency

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 10, 2017

Just seeing Rahul Dravid break into a smile was uplifting. Had a rollercoaster season as Delhi oscillated between the brilliant & the banal

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 10, 2017

Come on Mr Iyer, get me a hundred!!! @DelhiDaredevils @IPL @SonyLIV

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) May 10, 2017

What an innings from #ShreyasIyer ! 4 runs short of deserved 100 but only because he was playing the big shots to take his team home! #GLvDD

— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) May 10, 2017

A great win @DelhiDaredevils
Mind blowing innings #ShreyasIyer..Did not take any big risk
100 not done..no problem..but great innings#DDvGL

— Aditya Pushpam (@sonu31613) May 10, 2017

#ShreyasIyer besh besh !!!

— odin (@heathenassault) May 10, 2017

A year ago @ImRo45 said he can see VirenderSehwag in #shreyasiyer , Hitman judgement ??

— AN (@anurag_i_am) May 10, 2017

Future of Indian Cricket is not just Safe, It is exploding ?⚡?? #GLVDD #IPL #ShreyasIyyer ? @BCCI

— Bimal Patel (@BimalPatel10) May 10, 2017

Foolish people watching Justin Bieber concert will miss a wonderful inning today by an Indian Batsman. #GLvDD #JustinBieberIndia

— Sir Rohit Sharma (@imWrong45) May 10, 2017