Twitter Reactions: Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli tucked up by Gujarat Lions

Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle have formed a dangerous partnership at the top of the order for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. They have opened for RCB for three years now and opposition bowlers are dreaded by the sight of them. The fact that they are a left hand-right hand combination adds to the woes of the bowlers in the IPL.

Playing against Gujarat Lions, Kohli and Gayle walked out to open the RCB batting and the crowds at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium were expecting fireworks. RCB were expected to come out all guns firing. Suresh Raina was prepared for the onslaught and peppered the duo with some good quality fast bowling.

Nathu Singh and Basil Thampi shared the new ball. Singh started the first over and immediately targeted Gayle’s pads. He gave away just 3 runs in the first over and followed it up with another good over where he conceded just 7. Thampi at the other end bowled aggressively trying to bounce out Kohli.

Kohli broke the shackles to some extent when he whipped Thampi over mid-wicket for a six. That was a statement of intent from the captain. He wanted Gujarat Lions to know that they are not here to bide time and see the new ball burst.

Bangalore in a strange sluggish start, could reach just 17 after the first three overs. The pressure was palpable; Kohli was looking a wee bit anxious to get going. Thampi dug one short again except it didn’t get up too much and Kohli got into a very good position early and smashed it only to find Aaron Finch at short fine leg. This was a lucky break for GL as 5 yards either side of Finch and the ball would have rocketed to the fence. Kohli made the long walk back, smiling in disgust.

Gayle followed suit 2 balls later as he felt for the first ball bowled by Andrew Tye in the corridor of uncertainty. The ball took a faint edge off Gayle’s bat and was easily pounced by wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

As a result of Kohli’s 13-ball 10 and Gayle’s 11-ball 8, RCB were off to a sluggish start and the ghosts of the KKR game resurrected.

Here are the best twitter reactions to the slow start by Kohli-Gayle.

#Kohli and #Gayle now at Dressing Room ? pic.twitter.com/gjrBTZskpN

— Legend பச்சமண்ணு MSD (@Aadhi_Offl) April 27, 2017

Basil Thampi and Nathu Singh….just loved the way both bowled to the Boss and Universal Boss. Unflappable temperament. #RCBvGL #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 27, 2017

So Watson will be back again. RCB gonna keep picking-dropping between Gayle-AB-Head, that's their IPL#RCBvGL

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 27, 2017

Virat Kohli picking fielders like Stuart Binny picks water bottles these days.. #IPL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 27, 2017

Apart from that 6 which was due to pure anger, Kohli was struggling out there in the middle. Not even rotating strike 4 runs in 12 balls.

— Clive (@vanillawallah) April 27, 2017

When it's more than two balls and Ab De Villiers has not scored a run. #RCBvGL pic.twitter.com/1WqKvNBgqi

— Maithun Troll – HMP (@Being_Humor) April 27, 2017

Pic 1: Kohli fans before the start of innings
Pic 2: Witnessing fall of wickets #RCBvGL pic.twitter.com/XDpLWZHp2Z

— typo (@Yourtypo) April 27, 2017

Kohli l appreciate your leadership but come little later to bat so that you can support the batting line up?

— Francis Vineeth (@vinufran) April 27, 2017

Mandeep Singh has booked an Uber to go to Airport, to escape from Virat Kohli #RCBvGL

— Shashi (@AllTimeBakchod) April 27, 2017

Last match RCB lost all their side in 9.4 overs, this match they lost only half their side in 9.4 overs. Improvement.,#IPL #RCBvGL

— Chirag (@chirag2349) April 27, 2017

And People are blaming Mandeep for that Run out! It was clearly Abd's mistake there. Accept it! #RCBvGL #IPL

— Satnam ? (@imSatnam_) April 27, 2017

When everything gone wrong the last thing RCB didn't want is run out and that's what actually happened that too AB De Villiers. #RCBvGL #ipl

— IamMathur (@yogeshwermathur) April 27, 2017

Kohli – Can we finish the game quickly, need to go for party tonight.
Team – Consider it done sir..!#RCBvsGL #ipl #IPL2017

— Bijay Naik (@naik_bijay) April 27, 2017

As usual @RaviShastriOfc gets it horribly wrong. ABD was half way down and Mandeep only responded – was ABD's call. #IPL #RCBvGL

— Quo Vadimus (@Chetlur) April 27, 2017

RCB, don't play #ipl for the sake of your fans. ??????????

— Frank (@FranklinnMJ) April 27, 2017

Positives for RCB fans: At least this match won't be as worse as the last game. #IPL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 27, 2017

Getting worse for Mandeep. Not in the runs, now runs AB out. It was AB's call, should have trusted him. #IPL #RCBvGL

— MS Ramakrishnan (@kimivamsi) April 27, 2017

Fastest things in IPL :

1.Jadeja's over
2. Time Out
3. RCB's Batting collapse#RCBvGL #IPL

— Yash Agarwalla (@Yashagarwalla) April 27, 2017