India all-rounder Krunal Pandya became the talk of the town on social media. The southpaw was slammed by Twitterati for his miserable performance in the first T20I against Australia at The Gabba, Brisbane on Wednesday (November 21).
Krunal conceded 55 runs in his 4 overs and was taken to the cleaners by Glenn Maxwell. During a rain-marred 17-overs-a-side contest, Maxwell smacked Pandya for three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over to guide Australia to 158/4.
With the bat, Krunal could only manage 2 runs off 4 balls as India were needing 13 runs in the final over to win the match. After such a miserable show, the backlash from the fans was pretty much expected and Pandya had to face the wrath.
While some were clearly unhappy with Krunal Pandya being selected over Yuzvendra Chahal, some pointed out how Ravindra Jadeja could have been a better option with all the experience.
Here are some of the tweets:
I know Krunal is a very tempting option to have in the team, but he must never come in place of Chahal or Kuldeep. It diminishes India’s great strength & the reason for its recent successes - Their bowling.#AUSvIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 20, 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
Krunal got chance in IPL through Indian reservation quota...No talent.... Below average pkayer
— Ashis Biswas (@AshisBi38956981) November 21, 2018
Where is Kedar Jadhav, Krunal Pandya is an overhyped cricketer!
— hridayesh chettri (@lossferwords) November 21, 2018
Why always because of stupidity in selection we Indians has to suffer defeat?why this failure kl Rahul playing on no.3? Jadeja far far better in each department thn krunal Pandya thn why he picked?chahal always fox Australians why he left out?#AUSvIND #INDvsAUS
— Vaibhav (@TharVaibhav) November 21, 2018
Its stupid to select players who have performed on flat wickets on Indian soil for a series to be played in Australia. Krunal Pandya doesn't qualify to be in the squad at the first place.
— Rahul (@RahulSkelkar) November 21, 2018
Krunal was playing for Australia from India's team.... @BCCI @RaviShastriOfc
— Pramesh (@prameshp1) November 21, 2018
Coming to the match, the revised target for the Men in Blue was 174 in 17 overs. Despite Dhawan’s sublime 76 off 42 balls and Dinesh Karthik’s breathtaking cameo (30 off 13 balls), India finished agonizingly short on 169/7. Adam Zampa was the stand-out bowler for the visitors, picking the crucial scalps of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in his 4 overs by conceding only 22 runs.
By virtue of this win, Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-T20I series. Melbourne will host the second game on Friday (November 23).