Twitter shell-shocked by MS Dhoni's exclusion from the lineup

The Indian team is currently playing a two-match T20I series versus Ireland at the Malahide Cricket Ground in Dublin. The first match was comprehensively won by the Men in Blue by a massive margin of 76 runs. Their batsmen and bowlers were clinical and brushed aside Gary Wilson’s men in the rather one-sided encounter. The short boundaries and the flat deck ensured the India post a massive score.

Despite the victory, Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, talked about chopping and changing in the T20I format. Moreover, he also mentioned that the players in the squad, who didn’t get an opportunity in the first contest, will get a chance in today’s encounter. Kohli has stuck to his words and made as many as four changes in the playing eleven.

The massive surprise

The major change that sparked was in the form of MS Dhoni who was benched and was replaced by Dinesh Karthik, who didn’t get a chance in the first match. Dhoni didn’t have much to do in the previous match as he batted in the dying stages of the Indian innings. He smacked one four and a six to score 11 runs from five balls. He was dismissed by Peter Chase when he mistimed a pull shot.

It’s a rare occasion when the former Indian skipper had to sit out despite being in the squad. Meanwhile, Karthik would want to make full use of the chance and make a case for himself for the England T20I series which starts a few days after the conclusion of today’s match. Apart from Dhoni, the Indian captain also included KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav, and Siddarth Kaul into the eleven.

The trio replaced Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Jasprit Bumrah. Kaul was presented with his maiden international cap. He was rewarded for his stupendous performance for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. For the time being, Twitter is finding it difficult to fathom and analyze the reasons behind Dhoni being left out.

Here is how Twitter reacted

Never ever saw Jersey No.7 on that slot in the Indian team sheet before…Dhoni rested for Ireland T20 from the playing XI. pic.twitter.com/gn6iiEuQeV

— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) June 29, 2018

Atleast Can We See MS Dhoni as a Substitute Fielder on the Ground.
#IREvIND

— Shaurya Dwivedi (@ishauryadwivedi) June 29, 2018

When was the last time an Indian limited overs side didn't have any of MS Dhoni, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar or Shikhar Dhawan?
Virat Kohli said everyone would get a chance, and he's certainly living up to it. #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/6WIbJWkFMS

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) June 29, 2018

Dhoni Nahi To 📺 Band. #IREvIND

— Shaurya Dwivedi (@ishauryadwivedi) June 29, 2018

No #Dhoni No #Cricket

Shut Down TV 🤙
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏#IREvIND #INDvIRE pic.twitter.com/7kAgff21HM

— రామ్ చ‌ర‌ణ్ ™ (@Royalruup) June 29, 2018

Whtt @msdhoni isn't in playing XI 😞😞 #INDvIRE

— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) June 29, 2018

Now Indian cricket team without MS Dhoni Like fish without water. @BCCI #Dhoni Ye bhi koi drop krne ki baat hai kay .@msdhoni 😟😟#INDvIRE

— Snehal Wele😎 (@SnehalWele) June 29, 2018

MS Dhoni has so far missed 11 T20I matches for India.
The wicket-keepers for India in these matches:
2 – Naman Ojha (2010)
1 – Parthiv Patel (2011)
2 – Robin Uthappa (2015)
6* – Dinesh Karthik (2018-)#IrevInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 29, 2018

@imVkohli tell me VK why u dropped ms dhoni ..if u want to give chance for some players give them in upcoming matches ok ….#INDIAvsIRELAND

— Manoj_dhoni (@Manojdhoni7786) June 29, 2018

No #MSDhoni No cricket..☹️#INDvIRE

— Dr. Kavita Pradhan (@KavitaPradhan6) June 29, 2018

@Dream11 Both MS Dhoni and S Poynter in wicket Keeper Section are not playing , you guys give Karthik or Wilson in wicketkeeper option , I suggest to cancel the match and refund our entry fee. The fault is on your side .

— Shyam Sundar (@itzmeshyams) June 29, 2018

Mood-
For me, @msdhoni was d only reason to watch out this match. Damn he is not playing.
Wait there's no FIFA match today. Okay then lets stick to this match.#INDvIRE

— Prateek Paharia (@PrateekSpeakes) June 29, 2018

@imVkohli ms dhoni ko kyu bhar kar diye app log very bad decision jisne life banayi aapki cricket me usi ko dhoka de diya.. Very bad ye umeed nahi thi aapse..

— Gaurav Tiwari (@GauravT26831247) June 29, 2018

@BCCI why removed MSD from playing11…remove Manish pandey nd others player why removed MSD only…yaha v politics chlne lga Bhai haa…. #MSDhoni #INDvIRE

— Himanshu Kumar Gupta (@Himansh04662117) June 29, 2018

@imVkohli U Broke My Heart 💔💔
Mahi Ko Toh Altls Khilana Chahiye Tha ..@msdhoni Ko Dekhne Ke Liye Hi Byatha Tha 😭😭😭😭😭@BCCI

— Srkian Arpan Sarkar (@srk_arpan) June 29, 2018

When was the last time @msdhoni wasn't in the playing 11 in a T20 international match when he was in the squad?#IREvIND

— Priyanuj_Sarmah (@Priyanuj_Sarmah) June 29, 2018

@BCCI , Why Hrdk is playing every game. What is his speciality. He is NT Kapil Dev or Gavaskar Sir. Why nt Virat dropng hmslf frm tm & Cptncy instd of drpng MS Dhoni.

— Tapasi Sengupta (@TapasiSengupta2) June 29, 2018

MS Dhoni has been dropped for Dinesh Karthik

Past decade has been the exactly Reverse #IREvIND

— Sai Abhilash (@Saiabhilash9) June 29, 2018

@BCCI , Virat sd NT play with d place of MS Dhoni. As a wkt kpr MS sd NT dropped or rested or whatever. Virat sd b sackd frm cptncy . & we boykt 2 dy's game. Rubbish Captaincy.

— Tapasi Sengupta (@TapasiSengupta2) June 29, 2018