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.