Twitter Reactions: Pandey, Dhoni blitz propels India to 180

After a thoroughly dominating performance in the final two ODIs of the ODI series, team India entered the T20I series with a depleted unit. The selectors had named a very young squad for the three-match T20I series. While the hosts had total domination on their mind, team Sri Lanka entered the series with a hope to turn their fortunes around. As the match stands at the half way stage in the first game, one could say it is even stevens at the moment.

The action moved to the Barabati stadium for the first encounter. Team India were asked to bat first after Thisara Perera won the toss for Sri Lanka. Shikhar Dhawan had been rested for the series and hence, KL Rahul made a comeback as the opener. Rahul opened with Rohit Sharma as the Sri Lankan side sported a new look bowling lineup. Rohit and KL got off to a positive start.

However, Rohit failed to convert his start to a big score. Angelo Mathews accounted for his dismissal on 13. Young Shreyas Iyer walked in at number 3 to join KL Rahul. The two batsmen added 63 runs off 46 deliveries for the second wicket before Iyer (24) was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep in the 13th over. Meanwhile, KL Rahul managed to ease past yet another fifty in the shortest format of the game.

He, however, failed to carry his bat along and was dismissed in the very next over by Thisara Perera. Rahul hit 61 off just 48 deliveries with 7 fours and a six. The innings seemed to dwindle as the overs progressed. However, MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey added some cheeky runs towards the end. Soon, the cheeky runs turned into a carnage. The powerhitting saw the 19th over bowled by Pradeep yielding 21 runs.

Dhoni and Pandey added an unbeaten 68 run stand for the fourth wicket in just 33 deliveries as India posted 180/3 by the end of their stipulated 20 overs. While Dhoni remained unbeaten on 39 off 22 deliveries, Pandey hammered 32 off 18 balls.

Here is how the Twitterati reacted to the India’s innings: