Twitter Reactions: Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul propel team India to cross the 200-run mark against Australia in the first innings

Team India brought out their best with the bat during the first innings of the opening T20I encounter being played at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Hardik Pandya was the man in charge with the bat smashing an unbeaten 71 off just 30 balls to propel the side over 200 in their 20 overs.

Talking about the proceedings, visiting skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bowl first on a batting paradise. However, team India openers were up to the task. A quick start was given by skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. 

However, the Aussie team made a good comeback within the field restrictions as they scalped two big wickets of Rohit and star batter Virat Kohli. Despite losing two wickets, Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav did not let the scoring rate go down as they thrashed each and every Australian bowler. 

Rahul got out after smashing 55 runs in just 35 balls, batter Suryakumar also followed him soon as he stroked 46 runs off just 25 balls after he smacked four maximums. 

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya stroked a breezy fifty

As was the case earlier, the Men in Blue did not get bogged down despite losing wickets in a cluster. After the fall of Rahul and Suryakumar, the innings was then held up by star all-rounder Hardik Pandya who compiled a well-made fifty. 

All-rounder Axar Patel was promoted ahead of the wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, but he failed to get going. Karthik was also scalped by pacer Nathan Ellis after making just six runs, but that did not affect Pandya on the other end. 

The prolific batter finished on unbeaten 71 runs in just 30 balls as he smashed seven fours and five maximums, 3 of which came in the last three balls, in his innings. Harshal Patel also remained unbeaten for his seven runs. For Australia, pacer Ellis was the pick of the bowlers as he took three crucial wickets.

Senior fast bowler Josh Hazlewood also snapped two big wickets. All-rounder Cameron Green also managed to take one wicket for the visiting team as the Men in Blue finished on 208 runs in their 20 overs.

Meanwhile, here are some Twitter reactions:

35/2 in 5 overs wasn't the best start. But after that only 2 boundary-less overs. Terrific batting from KL, SKY and Hardik, wrestled back the momentum and just kept going 👏🏽 It's always tough to defend at Mohali but this is a good total. Onus on the bowlers now! #INDvAUS

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 20, 2022

Master aadmi hai @hardikpandya7 👏🏻😃 #INDvsAUS

— rishi dhawan (@rishid100) September 20, 2022

FMA @hardikpandya7 is good

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) September 20, 2022

Looks like @hardikpandya7 is on a mission leading into the @T20WorldCup 👌

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) September 20, 2022

Green getting a lesson in T20 bowling by the best finisher in town @hardikpandya7

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 20, 2022

Damn! #Hardik

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) September 20, 2022

Gosh Hardik Pandya has some power😱

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) September 20, 2022

KL Rahul’s class can’t stay under the carpet for long.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 20, 2022

Absolute genius @Gmaxi_32 #INDvsAUS

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 20, 2022