Twitter Reactions: Rashid Khan anchors Sunrisers Hyderabad to the finals of IPL 2018

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have marched in to the finals of the IPL 2018 with a clinical win against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The Sunrisers offered the knock out punch to the ‘hosts’ of the Qualifier 2. Coming in to the game, the odds were against the Orange army as the crowds at Eden cheered for the home side. Also, the Sunrisers arrived in to the game after a string of defeats in the recent games.

On the contrary, the Knight Riders were high on confidence with the winning momentum to their side. On the day when it mattered, the Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to defend 174 at the venue to set up the title clash with the Chennai Super Kings.

Earlier in the game, the Kolkata Knight Riders had won the toss and opted to field first. Dinesh Karthik had no hesitation in doing what his side has been doing very well this season. But Karthik certainly stunned everyone by fielding only three overseas players in the match. Well, the SRH skipper sprung a surprise too, by roping in three changes in the side.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad got a decent start with the openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Wriddhiman Saha, adding 56 runs for the first wicket. Both the openers got into their 30s before Kuldeep Yadav sent Dhawan packing in the 8th over. In the same over, he also dismissed Kane Williamson. Saha headed back to the dugout a couple of overs later. Shakib Al Hasan (28) and Deepak Hooda (19) tried their best to rebuild the innings but the innings lost the charm gradually.

The big hitters like Yusuf Pathan and Carlos Brathwaite perished cheaply as well. SRH stared at a low score but Rashid Khan had other plans. Rashid hammered an unbeaten 34 off 10 balls to guide SRH to 174/7 in the stipulated 20 overs. In the run chase, the Kolkata Knight Riders again got a sizzling start with Sunil Narine scoring 26 off 13 deliveries. Siddarth Kaul dismissed him in the fourth over.

Chris Lynn and Nitish Rana then paraded along for a brief while before a run out saw Rana perish for 22. Robin Uthappa was bowled round his legs by Rashid Khan soon after. The KKR camp needed Chris Lynn to stay till the very end but the Aussie was trapped lbw by Rashid on 48 (31). At 108/5, the Knight Riders knew they had potentially messed up the chase. They still had some hopes with Shubman Gill taking the game to the final over. But scoring 19 in the final over is never an easy deal. The Knight Riders fell short by 13 runs.

Here is how the cricket world reacted to the match:

Happy for SRH! But what a season it has been for KKR. Nobody gave them a chance after the auction and they finished at no. 3

— Sreenath Sreekumar (@cheta_sree) May 25, 2018

MS Dhoni and Kane Williamson make it to the IPL 2018 Final. #IPL2018 #IPL #SRH #CSK pic.twitter.com/SIww1KUazI

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 25, 2018

Rashid Khan must be feeling like Taimur Ali Khan today. All cameras on him! #SRHvKKR #KKRvSRH

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) May 25, 2018

I think Rashid Khan could discover a new planet in the solar system or a new element in the periodic table today

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 25, 2018

Players to score 30+ runs, take 3+ wickets and 2 catches in an IPL match:

Ravindra Jadeja for CSK v KKR, Kolkata, 2013
JP Duminy for DD v SRH, Visakhapatnam, 2015
Ben Stokes for RPS v SRH, Hyderabad, 2017
RASHID KHAN for SRH v KKR, Kolkata, 2018*#SRHvKKR

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 25, 2018

Rashid Khan has contributed so much in this single game that he deserves atleast 3-4 MoM awards if not more. #IPL2018

— Manya (@CSKian716) May 25, 2018

Tomorrow morning Rashid will spread his arms, the whole team will sit on him and fly to Mumbai for the final 🙌 #SRHvKKR

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) May 25, 2018

#CSK to #SRH #CSKvSRH #SRHvCSK pic.twitter.com/hG67ALE8Pc

— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) May 25, 2018

Another last over finish this @IPL… nail biter! #SRHvKKR

— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) May 25, 2018

So, SRH break a five-match losing streak to make it to the IPL final.

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) May 25, 2018

Rashid Rashid everywhere #SRHvKKR

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 25, 2018

Well played @DineshKarthik. You were given a team with average batting and inexperienced fast bowling. Top class leadership and individual performance as a finisher. You came this far. 👏👏👏👏 #KKRvSRH

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) May 25, 2018

As a leg spinner I love seeing all the different types of leg spinners playing in the #IPL but watching @rashidkhan_19 bowl in these big games makes me proud as he loves this stage & pressure it also gets me excited ! 👍

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 25, 2018

Bat: 34* (10), with 4 sixes
Ball: 3/19 in 4 overs
Field: 2 catches, 1 run out

He had the highest batting strike rate and also the best economy rate.

What an all-round performance from Rashid Khan! #SRHvKKR

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 25, 2018

This was @rashidkhan_19 ‘s day and when it is the day of a top player, his team invariably wins. Congratulations @SunRisers . The two top teams meet in the final on Sunday, must be a fascinating contest #KKRVSRH

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 25, 2018

SRH 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💥💥💥🔥🔥🎉🎉 yeahhhhh !!!!!!

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) May 25, 2018

Always felt @rashidkhan_19 was a good spinner but now I wouldn’t hesitate in saying he is the best spinner in the world in this format. Mind you, he’s got some batting skills as well. Great guy.

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 25, 2018

Great all round Performance from a Champion Bowler @rashidkhan_19. Congratulations @SunRisers on reaching the final of @IPL 2018 #KKRvSRH

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) May 25, 2018

💔

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 25, 2018

Unbelievable bowling by Rashid Khan backed by superb captaincy but not the smartest move to not show respect for the best T-20 bowler in the world #KKRvSRH #IPL2018

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) May 25, 2018

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