Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya made a dream debut on Tuesday in the ongoing 1st of the 3-ODI match series in Pune. The cricketer broke the record for the fastest half-century by a debutant in the ODI format of the game.
Before the match kickstarted, team India handed an ODI debut to Krunal Pandya, and to make the moment more special for Krunal, it was his younger brother and Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya who handed the cap to him. It was an emotional moment for the Pandya brothers, who lost their father in January this year.
All thanks to his brilliant performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Krunal earned a place in India’s playing squad, and the star player of Mumbai Indians made sure to leave a mark on his debut match.
He walked out to bat at number 7 and took the game by storm from the first ball he faced. He got to his 50 in just 26 balls as he provided the late impetus to India. Krunal’s stunning knock was laced with seven fours and two sixes. After he smashed his half-century, an emotional Krunal Pandya dedicated his knock to his father, who passed away in January this year.
Century stand
Half centuries for @klrahul11 & @krunalpandya24
300+ on the boardBrilliant batting display from #TeamIndia as they post 317/5 in 50 overs. @Paytm #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/9iU3lmZQBz
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 23, 2021
Krunal was supported by KL Rahul, who also remained unbeaten on 62 off 43 as India finished on 317 for five.
Meanwhile, fans on social media went berserk after Pandya’s stunning knock and flooded it with amazing reactions from Twitterati on this. From cricketers, fans to experts everyone took to their social media to applaud the performance of Pandya.
Here, check out some of the best tweets we found on Twitter:
Me watching Krunal Pandya dedicate his half century to his father pic.twitter.com/Egp6DkuKFV
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/LoyalSachinFan/status/1374334103521087488?s=20
That interview
This photo
My heart ??Pure emotion from Krunal Pandya after his maiden 50 ????
Class. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/cqXQ8J362a— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) March 23, 2021
Emotional Krunal Pandya on his ODI debut after completing fifty – his father will be proud from heaven. pic.twitter.com/xMHJ0B4HCS
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 23, 2021
Krunal Pandya dedicates 50 on debut to his father, who passed away recently. Some very emotional scenes. He couldn’t get his words together in the post-inns interview. Deserved this hug. #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/mxYtwffl5q
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 23, 2021
Krunal Pandya emotionally said this innings is for his dad.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 23, 2021
Captain Virat Kohli and all teammates Applause and Appreciating Krunal Pandya batting and his efforts on debut match. pic.twitter.com/cyZ9H17Hjz
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) March 23, 2021
His batting partner KL Rahul himself Appreciated and appulse Krunal Pandya’s batting and his Knock. Very Nice from KL Rahul. pic.twitter.com/6nczA6heiQ
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) March 23, 2021
