IND vs SL | Twitter reacts as unprecedented second ball cutter bamboozles Rohit Sharma

11/02/2023

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Established in-form batsmen often seem imperious, requiring innovative tactics to get dismissed. Such was the case for Indian captain Rohit Sharma who needed a specific strategy by Dilshan Madushanka to get dismissed in a remarkable fashion on just the second ball of the innings on Thursday.

With India heading into the Wankhede as the only unbeaten team, struggling Sri Lanka had a challenging task at hand when Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill walked out to the crease after losing the toss to the visitors. The skipper took strike as per the norm while Dilshan Madushanka opened the attack for Sri Lanka. However, few could have imagined the brilliant plan the left-arm seamer had prepared to dismiss the opposition captain and hand a dream start to the Lions.

On the first ball of the innings, Kusal Mendis set a leg-side field earmarked with the unconventional leg slip, even though Rohit is known for his proficiency in playing shots off his pads. Madhushanka started off with an inswinger to Rohit, who gained confidence by effortlessly hitting it for a four. With half the job done, Madushanka pitched the very next ball in the same spot but this time skillfully rolled his fingers over it, causing it to move the other way and elude Rohit's outside edge.

It's quite unusual for a bowler to employ a cutter as early as the second ball of an innings, particularly when there's evident swing in the air. Rohit had evidently anticipated an inswinger but played down the wrong line as the ball curved past to crash into the top of off stump. The spectacular delivery left the Wankhede crowd in stunned silence.

Twitter was quick to notice the brilliant tactic and poured in their appreciation and reactions for the emerging left-arm pacer.

Gone for four

pic.twitter.com/2FxSogqgxK
— Shamsi sinha (@SSinha23546) November 2, 2023

Shocked

Rohit's Wife Ritika Shocking Reaction on Rohit Wicket🙌🏻🔥#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/0nHzRIwtqB
— M A R Y A M🇵🇰 (@maryam_says56) November 2, 2023

Tricky start

Lanka have been sharp, bending their backs. Pace, movement. Tricky start for the batsmen. No Rohit, no run down the wicket to break the lengths.#IndvsSL
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 2, 2023

Peach of a delivery

That Rohit wicket ball was as peach of a delivery as it could get..
— Jaammii.. (@Jaammiing) November 2, 2023

Criticism at its best

No drama

- No fight

- No agression

- No abusive behaviour

- No fitness

- No performance#OUT only 4(2) India 4 pr 1 wicket

Indian captain Rohit Sharma for you 🤡#INDvsSL #RohitSharma #CarabaoCup #INDvSL #CWC23INDIA #ViratKohli #StormCiaran #GazaGenocide… pic.twitter.com/jT9qDZgYqX
— VINITA_SINGH (@Vini_singh0) November 2, 2023

Out

*_💥 WICKET 🎯🎳_*

Madushanka to Rohit Sharma, OUT

*Rohit Sharma b Madushanka 4 (2) #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/sdXWjzib92
— Zohaib Khan (@ZohaibK48536736) November 2, 2023

Sri Lnkan crowd is cheering

The cheer from the crowd.

- Importance of Rohit's wicket is huge for India. pic.twitter.com/PIDgfjmA8h
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 29, 2023

Rohit can't figure out

In today's match, India has lost their first wicket Rohit Sharma couldn't see what type of bowling it was by Sri Lanka.#INDvsSL #INDvSL #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/5kJx9iSInJ
— Shobhit Kumar (@Shobhit110198) November 2, 2023

What a ball

Everyone was stunned by the Wicket of Rohit Sharma. What a ball that was 😑😑 #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/WblNNdmdRU
— Arpit Verma (@AV18mth) November 2, 2023

Huge wicket