MS Dhoni fans blast Rishabh Pant on Twitter after India's loss in the 1st T20I

The opening encounter of the Nidahas Trophy 2018 proved to be a disappointing and miserable one for the Indian team. They were thrashed by 5 wickets in the 1st T20I match of the tri-series by host Sri Lanka, courtesy an explosive match-winning contribution by Kusal Perera. The Indian batting line-up looked a bit fidgety without their regular guys like regular skipper Virat Kohli and wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni, who have been rested for this tournament.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan was the only batsman who looked to be in sublime touch in his staggering knock of 90 runs in just 49 balls, which took India towards a fighting total, which was not enough to win the match in the end.

Rishabh Pant- The villain in the defeat?

While Dhoni was rested, the Indian selectors decided to go in with Delhi wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, but he was drafted into the playing XI for the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka as a pure batsman. The lad came into bat when the team was in a solid position at 104-3 in 13 overs and Dhawan was looking in a great form on the other end. But Pant constantly struggled with his timing in search of scoring some quick runs, which eventually loaded the youngster with lots of pressure. He played a run-a-ball knock of 23 runs, which included a four and a six and was dismissed on the last ball of the Indian innings by fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.

After the first 13-overs, India was looking good to end with an innings total around 180-190, but with Dhawan the only batsman exploding the opposition, they failed to get the desired total. Pant was coming back after some stellar performances in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017-18, where he also scored an explosive century off just 32 balls. Before the 1st T20I match of the Nidahas Trophy, the southpaw batsman had represented the national team in just 3 T20Is, which includes another striving knock against the Windies.

MS Dhoni is known to have a huge fan following across the globe because of his achievements with the bat and while leading the Indian team during his reign and also some mind-boggling work behind the wickets in his cricketing career so far. After a struggling knock in the T20I match against the Lankans, Pant was targeted hard by some of the fans of the former Indian captain on Twitter.

If Rishabh Pant wants to be the next Dhoni, he needs to meet a pretty girl in a flight just about now.

— cricBC (@cricBC) 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

Forget about the batting abilities of Rishabh Pant ..the kind of fitness he is in presently don’t think virat Kohli would provide him with much opportunities in the future.

— AAYUSHI RATHI ?? (@aayushi07rathi) 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 23/23

Hater1 – MSD Should retire itna slow khela aaj..
Hater2 – Bhai woh Pant tha..
Hater1 – Saala pitch hi bekaar he slow he bowling pitch he ek dum.

— MS DHONI-FAN? (@FaizanMSD) March 6, 2018

23 runs of 23 balls in a T20 with a strike rate of 100. Dhoni should retire.
Arre sorry ye to Rishabh Pant hai.
Long way to go for this young lad.#SLvIND

— Neelkanth (@neelkanthh9) March 6, 2018

#NidahasTrophy Rishabh Pant – Ye Hain Dhoni Ke Replacement ? Bhai This Is Not IPl . #SLvIND

— Prakash Singh (@Im_Prakash06) March 6, 2018

So how many will blame Rishabh Pant for today's loss ?
Like they do always with MS Dhoni .
This guy need to work on his fitness . #SLvIND

— Bhupesh Dave (@Bhupesh_live) March 6, 2018