“Sellfless player, delivers whenever he is asked to bat”, Twitter reacts as Rahul Tripathi scored 35 runs off 16 balls

The Series is tied at one game apiece, Hardik Pandya and Team India face Sri Lanka, winners of the Asia Cup in 2022. The home team won the first game of the series but then lost the second

Indian head coach Rahul Dravid has said, “we are not going to be chopping and shifting guys too much” for the last game of the series.

It is widely anticipated that Rajkot, being one of the country’s flattest surfaces, would be a batting paradise. But, both captains, to everyone’s surprise, wanted to bat first on this pitch. Captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first on the wicket.

There was pressure on Shubman Gill, who is playing on a surface that has been characterized as “tacky” by Kumar Sangakkara. So far in the series, he has a 7 and a 5. So he’ll be hoping to add a strong score to his name tonight.

Ishan Kishan was dismissed in the very first over itself. He nicked a delivery off Madushanka, which bounced and took his bat’s edge and Dhananjaya took a great catch at the slips. Rahul Tripathi just like the last game at Pune came in to bat at number 3.

He scored 35 in only 16 balls. Before he tried to cutely guide one to the third man and found the fielder, he was doing rather well, hitting five fours and two sixes. The fact that India, after losing Ishan Kishan in the first over, finished the powerplay with a score of 53/2 is quite encouraging. At the other end, Shubman Gill has batted solidly, and what’s more, he’s still in the game but is playing a very slow inning.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Twitter Reacts:

Such players are needed in team. Not statpadders like BKL Rahul and Gill https://t.co/svAzxiqxVb

— Timba (@Timba04964557) January 7, 2023

Selfless 😂😂🔥 https://t.co/ZayTqwuuaC

— Walt (@WalterWhite_Off) January 7, 2023

100 Time Better Than 40 Ball 50 In Semifinals.#INDvSL https://t.co/f6JAotLcGO pic.twitter.com/34yEs2GBtC

— Shailendra Mishra (@imShail_3) January 7, 2023

Slow gill was putting pressure on him 🥲🥲 https://t.co/I9dOYBWNGw

— Utkarsh Atre🇮🇳 (@kapushion18) January 7, 2023

First T20I wicket for Shubman Gill https://t.co/VBNfAk9gfa

— YasH (@Freak_Cricketer) January 7, 2023

His whole stint with KKR was just that, wherever he was asked to bat he did and tried his best!!! https://t.co/NihcabKfw2

— Dharya Puri (@DPThirdCharm) January 7, 2023