IND vs SL: Twitter explodes with jokes and “B-Team” memes as Deepak Chahar wins series for India
The Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, was called the “second row” or “B team” by Arjuna Ranatunga. The same team has now defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 in the ODI series, with one game left.
Sri Lanka looked to have made a comeback in the series as their bowlers ran through the Indian batting line-up, removing as many as 7 batters for 193 runs while defending a total of 275 runs. India’s Deepak Chahar, however, had other ideas.
Chahar, playing only his 5th ODI for India, was sent at the No. 8 position to bat after India lost their 6th wicket in the form of Suryakumar Yadav at a score of 160 runs. Not long after, Krunal Pandya was also sent packing, bringing two part-time batters in the form of Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the middle.
The duo, however, completed the remainder of the chase by putting together an unbeaten partnership of 84 runs.
India’s stunning run-chase drew plenty of praise from fans, former cricketers and experts of the game, with many pointing out how the tailenders of India’s ‘B-team’ handed Sri Lanka a morale-shattering defeat.
Sri Lanka great Arjuna Ranatunga had drawn plenty of criticism for calling the Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian side a ‘second-string’ team. However, with one match yet to go in the 3-ODI series, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead. Just two matches into the tour, Ranatunga’s words have come back to haunt him.
“This is a second-string Indian team and their coming here is an insult to our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs,” the former Sri Lanka skipper had said.
India’s win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday marked a unique occasion in Indian cricket that saw the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, etc. watching the boys toy with the Lankans all the way from England.
While the Men in Blue were busy with the second ODI against the Lankans, a few all-format Indian players kicked off the 3-day practice match against County Championship XI in Durham. The practice Test will continue on Wednesday and Thursday while India’s limited-overs side will now take on the islanders in the third ODI on Friday.
