Twitter Reactions: Suranga Lakmal makes an impact on a rain marred day at Eden Gardens

The India vs Sri Lanka Test series got underway today at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With the rain gods deciding to pour out, it delayed the start of play by around 4 hours. While only 11.5 overs were bowled during the day, there was quite some action at the Eden Gardens.

Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal called the right side of the coin and would’ve thanked his stars he got to make the decision. It was obvious they were going to bowl first on a wicket that had a lot of juice for the fast bowlers and with overcast conditions adding a cherry on top of the cake. Team India preferred to go ahead with Shikhar Dhawan instead of Murali Vijay, they fielded two spinners and three pacers.

India were off to a really poor start as KL Rahul was dismissed on the first ball of the day. In conditions that are farthest from being Indian, the batters struggled as Lakmal bowled with excellent control, continuously probing the batsmen producing an unplayable delivery every now and then.

Soon, Suranga Lakmal got his second wicket as Shikhar Dhawan was bowled. In walked Indian skipper Virat Kohli with Cheteshwar Pujara at the non-striker’s end. Both were defensive in their approach as they tried to leave as many outgoing deliveries as possible.

Virat Kohli was dismissed lbw soon after tea and he bagged his sixth duck in Tests. He went for a review which was turned down. Ajinkya Rahane played five balls scoring none alongside Pujara’s 8 (43). That’s when bad light stopped play after which umpires called for stumps on Day 1.

Despite the fact that the day didn’t even witness 12 overs of play on the first day, Twitter was all riled up with India losing early wickets. Regardless of the outcome of the previous series, the Indian batsmen were trolled. On the other hand, Lakmal was lauded for his astonishing figures of 6-6-0-3.

Here we present to you, some of the best tweets from Day 1 of the India Sri Lanka 1st Test:

Confirmed:- Sri Lanka using WITCHCRAFT. #INDvSL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 16, 2017

Karun Nair was dropped after scoring a 300 to fit in regular No.5 Ajinkya Rahane. Why can't the same logic be used to fit in regular opener M Vijay ?#INDvSL

— Hari Prasad Mohan (@hpm94) November 16, 2017

Batsmen when the pitch has grass on it. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/8C2lgsxsHl

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 16, 2017

The reason to select Shikhar Dhawan over Murali Vijay are the same as they were for selecting Rohit Sharma over Pujara. We all know how that ended. #IndvSL

— cricBC (@cricBC) November 16, 2017

No Vijay. And I’d picked him in my playing XI for all three Tests (considering the overseas tours in 2018) irrespective of the outcomes. I obviously know nothing ?? #IndvSL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 16, 2017

If the pitch has to be like this, you actually don't need a pitch. You can play anywhere on the outfield.

— सज्जन लौंडा (@Sajjanlaunda) November 16, 2017

Virat Kohli and Che Pujara- 2 of the best Test batters in the world.

— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) November 16, 2017

An hour of play in two segments in the first test has given us more talking points than the entire India tour of Sri Lanka earlier in the year.

— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) November 16, 2017

As difficult conditions as any to bat in. And to think that effectively, Sri Lanka were bowling from only one end on this track

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 16, 2017

Suranga Lakmal bowling figures

6 Overs
6 Maidens
0 Runs
3 Wickets

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 16, 2017

You're initially looking to cover for swing, it pitches and moves away like a fast leg-break. And it happens in a fraction of a second. You get to see such conditions in India once in 15 years?

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) November 16, 2017

Can anyone confirm if Kohli made a duck?

Asking for a friend. #INDvSL

— Dennis Who? (@DennisCricket_) November 16, 2017

Cut him and he bleeds! #indvsl

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) November 16, 2017

31 dot balls out of 36. And yet, gripping. Enjoying watching the challenges of test cricket.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 16, 2017

KL Rahul's streak of successive fifties ends with a duck off first ball of the match. He had 7 50s in a row. #IndvsSL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 16, 2017

KL Rahul to be the water boy in all formats now. #INDvSL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 16, 2017

Preparations for South Africa has started. Rahul getting out first ball is preparing us for early collapses there

— Pawan SinghA (@urbanpendu00) November 16, 2017

India have lost a wicket from every ball this series. #INDvSL

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 16, 2017

So second innings century coming up for KL Rahul #IndvsSL

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 16, 2017

Isse 10 hi bande zyada aate hai PSL k match dekhne UAE mai

— Pawan SinghA (@urbanpendu00) November 16, 2017

Dhawan is going to troll us all with a good innings here. ?#INDvSL

— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) November 16, 2017

0(21) typical Pujara's batting ?#INDvSL

— Prajakta Bhawsar (@ViratsFangirl18) November 16, 2017