Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan: Twitter reacts as India left out KL Rahul for an epic clash

Finally, the time for India vs Pakistan came into existence in Asia Cup 2018. But, soon after the toss, Indian fans got the shock when they left out KL Rahul for the crucial clash. The fans aren’t impressed by the decision from the team management eventually ended up bashing them.

Ahead of the Asia Cup 2018, it was expected that KL Rahul will play the key role for India in the absence of Virat Kohli. But the team management has the other ideas in the mind as they restricted KL Rahul as the third opener in the side.

Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya comes in place of Shardul Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed for India vs Pakistan:

Team India went with the same batting order but made a couple of changes in the bowling department. The poor Shardul Thakur has been axed out while Khaleel Ahmed sacrificed his place for Jasprit Bumrah.

The all-rounder Hardik Pandya makes his way into the team after missing out the last couple of games for India across formats. However, the surprising news came when Rohit Sharma left out KL Rahul from the team and picked Dinesh Karthik.

Speaking of the inclusions, Rohit Sharma quoted saying ”Would’ve batted first. Nevertheless, we now know what we’re doing. Have to accept the fact that we were rusty against HK. They played well, showed great determination. To cross the line was a great deal. The fresh game today, guys looking forward to it. Two changes for us Bumrah back, Pandya back too. Shardul and Khaleel miss out.”

However, it would be interesting to see whether Team India are restricting him for the latter part of the tournament. Meanwhile, it will be a do or die game for the middle-order batsman.

Here are the best tweets:

I must confess I thought KL Rahul would be no 3. The two changes though are predictable.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2018

Right now, the greatest mystery in Indian cricket is not whether this is the best Test team in last 20 years, or player X unfollowed Y, or who is the third best limited-overs seam bowler in the country.

It's this: How is KL Rahul not a certainty in every XI across formats?

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/maibhiengineer_/status/1042371933726072833

https://twitter.com/adilmz12/status/1042369927691292674

https://twitter.com/Karangillaus/status/1042370503854514176

https://twitter.com/Sajjanlaunda/status/1042373604938137606

Any Why there is no KL Rahul At 3 ?? Ye @ImRo45 bewkoofi karta rehta hai ?

— Rajat Pandey (@RajatPandeyy) September 19, 2018

Why have they not included KL Rahul in playing 11 I clearly think he would have been prefect to bat at number 4 position#INDvPAK

— ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ (@TheAbhi_shetty) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/AdarshMP15/status/1042384566298730496

#selectdugout….Why KL Rahul not playing…he is in from ..scored a century in last England test…what does experts of select dugout say on this….shouldn't he be in for Dinesh Karthik or Kedhar Jadav as he's a match winner..?

— Vipin Ranwa (@Vipin_rider) September 19, 2018

KL Rahul after being dropped for #INDvPAK:-

"Ismein tera ghata, mera kuch nahi jaata,

Lekin Jadhav mere upar khelta, yeh main samaj nahi pata" pic.twitter.com/cItlOQXVn5

— jignesh maveshi (@jigneshmaveshi) September 19, 2018

I’m going to give up trying to understand India’s team selection under Ravi Shastri now.
They anyway don’t have their best batter Virat Kohli and then they don’t play KL Rahul against Pakistan. ??‍♀️#INDvPAK @klrahul11 @BCCI

— Mrinal (@mrinaaal) September 19, 2018

Kedar jadhav ne indian cricket history me aisa kya kiya ki use KL Rahul aur Manish Pandey ki jagah har match me khilaya ja raha h???

— мσнιт ρσкняιуαℓ (@MohitPokhriyal_) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/imRkakade/status/1042382325319966720

Lol. Please define power hitting? KL Rahul scores run s ball centuries in test matches. He recently scored a t20 century in England. Brute slogging can only get you 20-30 quick fire runs. Classy stroke play will always get you quality runs. Especially when the side is 40-4.

— sarvesh ayre (@ZiddiMercury) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/Raise_Voice_/status/1042379705947774978

@BCCI @SGanguly99 @harsha Tell me how jadhav rayadu and karthik are better batsmen then #klrahul it's a demoralizing decision by @ImRo45 @RaviShastriOfc after the heroics of @klrahul11 to leave him out and play rayadu (just because of ipl) kl had Better ipl record for a fact

— Abhishek GH (@_aabhi) September 19, 2018

100% jealousy for Hitman Selfish sharma @ImRo45 ? you may drop him today But he is your threat A danger threat in future #Klrahul #INDvPAK #PAKvIND

— Elango (@KLassy_elegance) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/akarsh_kashyap/status/1042378464760946688

Team selection ?

Kl rahul Future of india team ?

KL 100 % better then Dk but ?

— R Praveen (@PraviJanasena) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/HsVineeth/status/1042377669516525568

OMG ! KL Rahul not part of the playing XI , is he the first choice only under Kohli's captaincy ?? Happy for Kedar Jadhav though #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018

— Simad Ahmed (@SimadAhmed) September 19, 2018

The decision of not playing kl rahul is something strange.
Whatsoever may this decision comes in a positive way for us.
Come on India !
# IndVsPak

— Mohammed Abdul Muqeeth (@sarcasticbuck) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/sunday_tech/status/1042376704507797509

KL Rahul should have given a chance in place of Karthik. Extremely confident with the kind of innings he played at the Oval. #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018

— Shantanu Smart (@smartshantanu) September 19, 2018

Surprised to know that karthik n jadhav are rated above KL rahul #INDvPAK

— mahesh verma (@mahesh_89) September 19, 2018

Suprised, very suprised not to see KL Rahul in the team! Would have preferred KL at 3 and Rayudu at 4, MSD at 5. Surely KL is a better batsman than Jadhav/Karthik. @RaviShastriOfc #INDvPAK#klrahul

— Raj Mrityunjay (@Rajromantic1) September 19, 2018