IND vs SL 2017, 1st ODI: Twitter Reacts as Lakmal Heroics Jolt India Early On

Sri Lankan speedster Suranga Lakmal had previously troubled the Indian batsmen during the opening Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata when his fierce spell had helped the visitor’s bowl hosts out for a paltry 172 runs in the 1^st innings.

However, India came back strongly in the 2^nd essay, and Sri Lanka had to eventually face a hard final day’s play where India reduced them to 74/7 in 26 overs.

Also Read: IND vs SL, 1st ODI: India Creates Dubious Record In Dharamsala

Lakmal had shown his skills in seam-friendly conditions when he regularly troubled the Indian top order, and it was evident one more time during the opening ODI against the same opponents at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. It was one of the worst possible starts India ever had in an ODI game and in that process, they broke a few records.

The Lankans began with the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, as former skipper Angelo Mathews trapped him in front with a good delivery. Rohit Sharma was the next to follow of Lakmal, as the right-hander edged a short of length delivery straight to Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps.

Wickets kept tumbling one after the other. Dinesh Karthik got trapped in front by a sensational delivery from Lakmal which came back sharply after pitching. Manish Pandey was the next to go, as another probing delivery outside the off stump found the knick which was accepted gleefully by Mathews stationed in the slip cordon.

Also Read: IND vs SL 2017, 1st ODI: Watch – Lakmal Ruins Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Debut

There was no respite for the home team, as Shreyas Iyer followed in the very next over, as he chopped a short of length delivery from Nuwan Pradeep straight on to stumps. With India reduced to 16/5, Hardik Pandya joined former captain Dhoni in the middle but the flamboyant all-rounder was unable to cope with the pace and bounce and gave a simple catch to the slip cordon.

The next man to go was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as Lakmal induced yet another edge which was accepted by Dickwella behind the stumps.

https://twitter.com/kunalkamra88/status/939757738405412864

If Dhoni somehow helps India reach a respectable total from here on we have a script ready for the sequel of his biopic. #INDvSL

— Sand-d Singh (@Sand_In_Deed) December 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/nMeeDiN/status/939748223685554176

SL seamers forcing Indian batsmen to play virtually every delivery is also one reason why India is in dire straits. Well done SL! ???#IndvSL

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 10, 2017

Unwanted records:

The lowest score EVER in the first powerplay – 11/3 (Today) – India bag it. #INDvSL

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 10, 2017

18-ball duck for Dinesh Karthik today – the longest by an India batsman in ODIs.

Previous: 17 balls by Eknath Solkar v Eng, The Oval, 1974. #IndvSL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 10, 2017

India are 29/7, and it's time to bring these out! ??

Lowest ever totals in ODI history:

35 – Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka
36 – Canada vs Sri Lanka
38 – Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka

Paytm #INDvSL

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 10, 2017

No, Lankan bowlers aren't wrecking Indian batting. Truth is, Indian batsmen are in hurry to board their plane to Italy#INDvSL

— Debarati (@Debarati_M) December 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/BeingFlicked/status/939758395581644801