Sri Lanka Vs India 1st Test: Twitter Reacts As Batsmen Put India On Top On Day 1
Jul 26, 2017 at 5:46 PM
Shikhar Dhawan made a sensational comeback to Test cricket, slamming a career-best 190 while Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten on 144 as India finished on a commanding 399 for 3 to grab the opening day honours of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Virat Kohli’s decision to bat first on a flat batting track seemed to have backfired when Abhinav Mukund departed for just 12. The left-handed batsman, who had scored a duck in the practice match, is running out of time to prove himself and the latest failure is set to show him the exit door in the next Test if KL Rahul recovers from the flu. On the other hand, Dhawan, who was recalled to the team as a replacement for Murali Vijay, was playing his first Test since the match against New Zealand in October last year and made the most of it.
Dhawan looked in his elements right from the word go and barring the chance he offered to Asela Gunaratne in the slip cordon when he was batting on just 31, it was a flawless innings full of well-timed boundaries. He scored 190 off just 168 balls with the help of 31 boundaries and found an able partner in the calm and composed partner. With Dhawan taking Sri Lanka’s attack to the cleaners, Pujara played the perfect second fiddle. The duo had added 253 runs for the second wicket before Dhawan became Nuwan Pradeep’s second victim.
The hosts got a glimmer of hope to claw their way back into the match when Pradeep struck again to remove India skipper Virat Kohli for just 3 but Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (39) shared an unbeaten partnership of runs to firmly put India in command of the proceedings at Galle.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s play:
Well played to @SDhawan25 awesome to see him go well. Love Sri Lanka what a place.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) July 26, 2017
No great build-up or shoo-shaa before series, @cheteshwar1 goes and does what he knows best: score yet another Test century
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 26, 2017
12th Test ton for Cheteshwar Pujara! The unsung hero for India in the last few years. Grind, patience, temperament! Superb stuff! #SLvIND
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 26, 2017
India's best Test batsman on Asian soil at present.. can't remember Cheteshwar Pujara faring poorly even in one Test series in Asia #IndvsSL
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 26, 2017
New season, different beard, same result for Pujara. Another ton.#SLvInd #SLvsInd
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 26, 2017
Kohli had no issues against short pitch stuff on Star Sports. I blame anti national Sony for this newfound bouncer problem. #SLvInd
— cricBC (@cricBC) July 26, 2017
The bouncer that affected Kohli for a while in the West Indies continues to haunt him here…….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 26, 2017
Kohli out cheaply, just like Kumble, recently.#SLvIND
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) July 26, 2017
Shikhar Dhawan (190) is out after scoring 126 in the session, the highest in Tests by any batsman between Lunch and Tea in 63 years. #SLvInd
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 26, 2017
Dhawan dismissed after breaking one thumb and eleven spirits #SLvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 26, 2017
If life gives you another chance, grab it like Dhawan. Bossed his way to his highest Test score… #SLvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 26, 2017
Slaughter at Galle. At the rate Dhawan (particularly) and Pujara are going Sri Lankans will soon be waving the white handkerchief
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 26, 2017
Murali Vijay and KL Rahul after Dhawan's innings. #IndvSL pic.twitter.com/NM1xZX3Dgr
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 26, 2017
Effortless batting from Shikhar Dhawan
Effort-less bowling from Sri Lankan bowlers— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) July 26, 2017