Twitter reacts to remarkably sluggish knock from Manish Pandey

Updated - 18 Feb 2018, 09:28 PM

Manish Pandey. (Twitter)

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India, after being asked to bat during the 1st T20I at Jo’burg, where off to a blistering start. Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli pressed the accelerator right throughout the powerplays.

The men in blue lost the wicket of Kohli with the score at 108 in just nine and a half over. With the track record at Johannesburg, no total remains safe, especially looking at their opponents.

South Africa’s famous win over Australia where they chased down a record total of 434 was at this very ground. Therefore, with the start provided by the top order, a target of over 220 was requisite.

India’s number five batsman, Manish Pandey took the guard with the responsibility to take their side towards a target well above 200.

However, the man who stole the limelight in this year’s auction failed miserably to accelerate at the back end of the inning. On a pitch where the likes of Dhawan, Kohli, and Rohit looked like smashing every ball to the boundary, Pandey could only manage a strike rate of 107.

Also Read: Twitter Reactions: Shikhar Dhawan Heroics Propel India to 203/5

Pandey scored a 27-ball 29 which had only one maximum when the need of the hour was to score as many possible on a batting paradise. His sluggish knock, in the end, made a difference of about 20 runs which may well be the defining factor in the match.

This is not the first time Pandey struggled to score boundaries at crucial junctures. Even in the T20I match against England at Nagpur last year, Pandey struggled to put bat to the ball.

Twitterati, on the other hand, were unforgiving looking at Manish Pandey’s struggle. India managed a par total of 203 runs thanks to the late flourish from MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya.

Let us look at how Twitterverse reacted

South Africa & Manish pandey tried hard to restrict India to less than 200.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/not_dat_guy/status/965221548176039936

Only Manish Pandey can score a single for a Full Toss ???#SAvsIND

— Mogambo ✪ ❄️ (@UberHandle) February 18, 2018

Despite Manish Pandey 's struggle, India get to 203 ,should have been a lot more with the start they had. Over to the bowlers now. #SAvsIND

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 18, 2018

If Someone Ask What Is Team Contribution

Just Show Them This

Dhawan – 72
Rohit Sharma – 21
Suresh Raina – 15
Kohli – 20
Manish Pandey – 29
Dhoni – 16
Hardik Pandya – 13

— Prashanth ?? (@Paachu90) February 18, 2018

Even Bandla ganesh best friend Sachin Joshi can play better than Manish Pandey
RT if you agree

— Mogambo ✪ ❄️ (@UberHandle) February 18, 2018

Manish pandey played like the average student in a family of toppers #INDvSA

— Dheeraj Ahuja (@Dheeraj23903824) February 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/brainfadesmith/status/965223413315878912

If Ajinkya Rahane played the same innings Manish Pandey played today, he would've been ripped to shreds.

29 off 27 deliveries just not acceptable after that blistering start. #SAvIND

— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) February 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/SirrrJadeja/status/965228112798564353

98 runs in first 8 overs next 105 runs came in next 12 overs. Thanks to the mighty effort from Manish Pandey.??
30 runs short from the formidable total. #INDvSA

— Purusharth Durgapal (@urbanyogi77) February 18, 2018

Manish pandey inning #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/7No7SimKVs

— Rajat (@rajatpandey8294) February 18, 2018

Every time Manish Pandey has got a chance he has done team more bad than good. That’s exactly what I was saying few days back. He is doing no justice to his talent. ?? #SAvIND

— Nik (@InJail_Out_So0n) February 18, 2018

Manish pandey screwing a big total, never wanted him in t20s.
Should be playing ODI cricket though#SAvIND

— Akki (@CrickPotato) February 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/billz_25/status/965226047670226944

What an amazing innings by Manish pandey . Unbelievable knock . Waiting to see srh reaction.surely deserves man of the match

— Ankit sharma (@Ankitsh50593026) February 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/Shahrcasm/status/965226542094721025

https://twitter.com/Langer_Mayanti/status/965232949875507200

https://twitter.com/KukretiShobhit/status/965223487739777026