(Image source from: www.hindustantimes.com)
India set foot in the tour opening first Twenty20 International against Australia at The Gabba on Wednesday but ended up losing the rain-hit match by four runs in spite of scoring more runs.
After winning the toss, India captain Virat Kohli asked the Aussies to bat first. The hosts posted 158/4 after the match was diminished to a 17-overs-a-side match.
In response, India scored 169 for seven in 17 overs but still lose the match thanks to the D/L method.
Shortly after the match, Indian fans took to social media sites to vent out their anger and blame the culprits. As it turned out, the rain and D/L rule were not the only ones who faced the wrath of Indian fans.
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Krunal Pandya, who leaked 55 runs without success from his spell of four overs, was the first target for aggravated fans, who also questioned the Indian team management's wisdom in selecting the Mumbai all-rounder.
It is another matter though that the Mumbai Indians player was hailed for his stupendous debut earlier this month against the West Indies.
Here are some of the reactions:
India should never pick krunal pandya, he is neither a bowler nor a batsman. https://t.co/5fEQL5Wpxv
— cooly (@gorkhalicool) November 21, 2018
India paid the price for dropping Chahal.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 21, 2018
Krunal Pandya bowled 4 overs for 55 runs & no wicket. India would have been chasing 20 runs less in all likelihood if Chahal was playing. Play Krunal as batsman if you want to, but not as replacement to Chahal.#AUSvsIND
India are flirting with danger so close to the World Cup. Playing Krunal Pandya in place of @yuzi_chahal , Virat giving up No 3 to Rahul, not having potential World Cuppers Rayudu (No 4) and Kedar (No 6) in T20 in Aus will be prone to questions #AusvsInd
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 21, 2018
Why is Kedar Jadhav and Ravi Jadeja not in the T20 Squad ?
— Anselm Gomes (@GomesAnselm) November 21, 2018
Rather than having Krunal Pandya and rishabh pant #AUSvIND sunny Gavaskar is right , Pant needs to go and learn right now , his time will come . Give the gloves to DK will also hand him loads of confidence
Dear BCCI,
— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) November 21, 2018
Please Include Me In Place Of Krunal Pandya. I Field Much Better And At Least I Draw The Match. #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS
For the record, Krunal joined an unwanted list of Indian bowlers who have conceded over 50 runs in the shortest format of the game.
Yuzvendra Chahal, who has failed to notice for the match, topped the list. He delivered 64 runs without success against South Africa at the Centurion in early this year in February.
Joginder Sharma, who splendidly bowled the last over in India's World T20 triumph against Pakistan in 2007, is second with figures of 0/57.
Pandya's figures of 0/55 are third, beating Yusuf Pathan's 1/54 to the third place. Mohammed Siraj's 1/53 completes the top five.
-Sowmya Sangam
