SA vs IND, 1st Test: Twitter Reacts As Hardik Pandya Bails India Out Of Trouble

The spotlight was firmly on Hardik Panda before the series started. The allrounder’s selection in the Test team for the series against Sri Lanka had raised a lot of eyebrows. However, he had managed to justify the decision with a good performance. But still, many doubted that whether the 24-year old would be able to perform on the bouncy and pacy pitches of the rainbow nation.

The doubt would have only elevated when India’s top-order including the likes of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara failed in the ongoing first Test in Cape Town. However, it did not take long for the Baroda star to prove his detractors wrong as he played arguably the best innings of his career so far to bail India out of trouble.

The right-handed batsman came to the crease when India were reeling at 76 for 5 and were soon reduced to 92 for 7. Pandya, just like his teammates also faced a testing time on the pitch but unlike his teammates, he managed to stay on. And as they say, fortune favors the brave; the all-rounder also earned two reprieves – a dropped catch by Dean Elgar when he was on 15 and a missed stumping chance when he was on 71. But amidst all those ifs and buts, he played a crucial innings to save India from a precarious position.

Instead of taking a cautious approach, Pandya took the attack to the hosts and raced away to his second Test fifty off just 46 balls. By the time the second session ended, Pandya had 81 against his name, off only 68 balls. He was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the duo added 99 runs before Morne Morkel dismissed the latter. Pandya was looking set for a sublime ton before being sent back by Kagiso Rabada for 93. India were eventually all out for 209.

Earlier, Pujara and Rohit Sharma had started the proceedings with the bat, and although they put up a good resistance in the first session, they could not accelerate before Rabada dismissed the latter. Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Wriddhiman Saha also failed to deliver as India were reduced to 92 for seven before Pandya and Bhuvneshwar steadied the ship.

Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s innings and Pandya’s knock:

Some 90s are more valuable than many 100s….Pandya’s innings of 93 was one of those. Well played. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Tragic that @<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->d<!---->i<!---->k<!---->p<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->y<!---->a<!---->7 couldn't reach century. But this knock of breathtaking bravado and brilliance will be long remembered

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Well played Pandya. Might have missed a ton but tonnes of entertainment for us fans. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— cricBC (@cricBC) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

This is special @<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->d<!---->i<!---->k<!---->p<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->y<!---->a<!---->7 .. very very special .. the context, the fight.. Nothing less than a big hundred #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A ????

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Don't worry Pandya, this inning is always better than hitting a century against Sri Lanka.#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

SA: mere paas bounce hai, pace hai, movement hai, world class fielding hai, home conditions hai, tumhare paas kya hai?
IND: p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->H<!---->M<!---->Y<!---->D<!---->l<!---->g<!---->P<!---->A<!---->B<!---->r

— cricBC (@cricBC) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Sanjay Manjrekar seems happier than South African commentators on Pandya’s dismissal !

— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Hardik Pandya is walking back 2 feet taller. Well done man. May this series seal your Test spot forever.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Fun Fact: Bhuvaneshwar Kumar who decided to skip his honeymoon for net practice has scored more runs in 2018 than Virat Kohli who decided to skip net practice for his honeymoon. Let that sink in.

— ?? (@Ojasism) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

https://twitter.com/AllTimeBakchod/status/949639398756253696

Do Kim Jong Un and Trump know that India has Hardik Pandya?

— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

good day for hardik pandya. top score for india and top twitter trend in india #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

India have one battle already: Elgar’s drop far more costly than Dhawan’s.

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Hardik Pandya is the second Gujarati after Mahatma Gandhi, thrashing South Africa when no one was there. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

If you drive like that to Dale Steyn you definitely deserve a bat sponsor ! Cmon sponsors. I will do the deal for you 🙂 Well played @<!---->B<!---->h<!---->u<!---->v<!---->i<!---->O<!---->f<!---->f<!---->i<!---->c<!---->i<!---->a<!---->l

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8