Twitter Reactions: India stage a turnaround owing to youngsters Pandya and Kuldeep

In what was a Super Sunday for the visiting team, they created a complete turnaround after being on the back foot when the day began. India had lost 6 wickets overnight and the day didn’t begin quite well for them too. India lost Wriddhiman Saha in the second over of the day.

At 339/7, it seemed that the Indian innings would be well folded under 400 by the first session. That’s when No.8 batsman Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav stitched a brilliant partnership of 62 runs for the eighth wicket as Kuldeep departed for 26. Mohammed Shami was dismissed by Lakshan Sandakan as India were reduced to 421/9.

Hardik’s quickfire knock

What followed was an unbelievable session of pinch hitting by Hardik Pandya. There was a time where he smashed 26 runs in an over with three consecutive sixes. He raced on to his maiden test century batting at no.8. What was breathtaking about the hundred was that it came from just 86 balls and had a magnificent seven sixes.

India went on to score 156 runs in the first session before Pandya was dismissed in the third ball after lunch. From 339/7 to 487 all out, India batted spectacularly well to reach there. Sandakan picked up a five wicket haul whereas Malinda Pushpakumara and Vishwa Fernando also picked up a couple of wickets each.

Sri Lankan batting continued to falter as they were reduced to 38/4 inside 10 overs with Mohammed Shami producing a fiery spell. He got the wickets of both the openers. However, Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella tried to rescue Sri Lanka from the early collapse. At 101/4, it seemed the day had been saved for the hosts.

Kuldeep finishes with 4

But that’s when spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin arrived at the scene and sent the Sri Lankan lower order bags packing. While Kuldeep took 4/40, Ashwin also got a couple of wickets. The Sri Lankan innings ended with just 135 runs on the board. Virat Kohli enforced the follow on and Upul Tharanga got dismissed for the second time in the day, this one accounted by Umesh Yadav.

At the end of the day, Sri Lanka were 19/1 from 13 overs and trailing by 333 runs. With a possible whitewash at home likely in the cards, the hosts would be expecting something miraculous. On the other hand, India would be looking to wrap things, this time within three days only.

Here are some of the amazing Twitter reactions during the course of the day: