India defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the first T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. They set a target of 204 runs for the hosts, thanks to a magnificent innings of Shikhar Dhawan. He added 72 runs with a strike-rate of 184.62. Dhawan's innings worked as a pillar in India's highest score against South Africa in T20Is.
While all Indian batsman scored with a strike rate of more than 130, Manish Pandey's bat remained quiet. He scored 29 runs off 27 balls for that.
His innings divided Twitter. Some supported Pandey, while others were furious with his slow innings. Here are the reactions:
Manish Pandey Successfully restricted india from getting 230+
— Intelligent Dad (@QuotesFactsFee2) February 18, 2018
Kudos...!!#SAvsInd #Manish
#RohitSharma
Because of uncertainity in the current team, there is an extra added pressure on players like Manish Pandey, Iyer, DK. This is what happens when you keep on changing the squad every match. Give them a long run or send them home. #SAvIND
— Chandra Verma (@chandravvv) February 18, 2018
@im_manishpandey given chance on the Edge of sword... He will play like this obviously. If got out will not be given any other chance.
— Virender Rajput (@RajputVirender) February 18, 2018
Because he is not #Hardik and he will get as many chances as hardik even on failing infinite times.
Timid @im_manishpandey needs lessons in bravado from Chulbul Pandey. Below par innings, killed the momentum.
— MJ (@chdtownRoadie) February 18, 2018
Drop Manish Pandey plz! Bring back KL Rahul. #INDvSA @BCCI
— gandhiraja (@mgandhiraja5566) February 18, 2018
Well I guess #viru paji score runs with much better strike rate in test match then the manish pandey in T20’s #INDvSA
— Kunal Bhatnagar (@kbhatnagar17KB) February 18, 2018
Watching Manish Pandey battling was like:
— Divya (@MeriGun) February 18, 2018
Boooooooooooooooooooooring.#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/W8e3bHjs73
Can't blame Manish Pandey for the poor strike rate , this is his first match on the south African surface in this tour..he was warming the bench for the whole series!
— Chinmay Kelkar (@ChinmayKelkar11) February 18, 2018
