Asia cup 2022: From start to the end, Tema India completely dominated Hong Kong on Wednesday to register an emphatic 40-run victory in Dubai. With this win, following the one on Pakistan from Sunday, Rohit Sharma’s team have now gone into the Super 4 round, joining Afghanistan who qualified for Super 4 yesterday after wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
It was the Suryakumar Yadav show for India that hogged the limelight for all good reasons. SKY hammered 68 runs in 26 balls and dominated the 98-run third-wicket stand with Virat Kohli. In his sizzling innings, Suryakumar walloped 6 fours and as many sixes, four of which came in the last over itself.
Virat Kohli registered his first half-century in international cricket since the IPL 2022 ended. Kohli scored 59 runs off 44 balls, lacing 3 sixes in his entertaining knock. India skipper Rohit Sharma had given India a rapidfire start, whacking 21 runs in 13 balls.
But it was KL Rahul’s outing that raised questions, frustration and concern about his intent – Rahul batted for 39 balls to score 36 runs. Given the opposition and good conditions, this was a poor outing by any standards, let alone KL Rahul’s standards.
In reply by Hong Kong, Babar Hayat, the number 3 batter, top-scored for Hong Kong with 41 runs in 35 balls and Kinchit Shah scored 30 off 28 balls, in their side’s total of 152.
Arshdeep Singh gave India their first breakthrough, dismissing opener Yasim Murtaza in the second over of the game. Indian bowlers controlled the proceeding from thereon and the required run rate soared for Hong Kong.
While Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were on the money, returning with figures of 1/15, Avesh Khan had another terrible game, returning with 1/53. Even though undertaking the conditins, this was a disappointing show from Avesh, further raising concerns about India’s back-up pace bowling options to Bumrah and Harshal.
Fans on Twitter celebrated India’s win, hailing Suryakumar and Kohli’s performances while lamenting the one from KL Rahul.
Here are some of the best reactions from the India-Hong Kong game:
India's top-order woes staring them in the face right now. It will be quite baffling if the think tank doesn't make necessary changes ahead of the T20 World Cup. Middle-order is already sorted. Now they need to take the necessary step with the top 3 as well.#INDvHK
— Prasenjiit Dey (@CricPrasen) August 31, 2022
SKY's boundaries tonight
4 square sweep
4 fine sweep
4 fine sweep
4 over short third
6 over keeper
4 over cover
4 edge (lucky)
6 flick
6 slash over backward point
6 slice over backward point
6 straight (off slower)
6 pull🙂
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) August 31, 2022
Avesh is making sure that one of Lord/Shami/Deepak Chahar end up sneaking into India's T20 world cup sqaud.#INDvHK #AsiaCup
— Akash (@Akashkumarjha14) August 31, 2022
What on earth is driving KL Rahul to bat with this "approach" when India have been so vocal about aggressive intent. #INDvHK
— Mayank (@mayankreports) August 31, 2022
Suryakumar Yadav won the player of the match for his terrific innings, the best from India in T20I. pic.twitter.com/p4Dxu6rPAl
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2022
A special innings by a special player – Suryakumar Yadav! pic.twitter.com/Hn7sYdZloY
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2022
Virat Kohli absolutely loved Suryakumar Yadav's knock. pic.twitter.com/jIhp90S1TL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2022
Send in SuryaKumar Yadav everytime to see if it's the person or the pitch.
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) August 31, 2022
Rohit Sharma said "Words are not enough to describe Suryakumar Yadav".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2022
Suryakumar Yadav – Mr. 360. pic.twitter.com/1gAnA6yhty
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/wildcardgyan/status/1564992382533152771
KL Rahul is literally not even trying to attempt any shots. This guy is selfish and shouldn't be part of any team sport .
— ` (@FourOverthrows) August 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/cric_roshmi/status/1565006668043194370
KL Rahul is the all time selfish player in Indian cricket.
Like if you agree.#IndvsHkg #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/fCdzNk019D
— Sanuj Lodhi (@sanuj_lodhi) August 31, 2022
Even Hong Kong openers are tonking the bowler over his head into the stands…
Kl Rahul should be sent on a 6 month sabbatical!
Nothing justifies his selfish motives..needs to get his freakin head sorted..
— Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) August 31, 2022
#KLRahul KL Rahul a complete nonsense in indian team 🤦.. one of the selfish player in modern day cricket @klrahul
— Royal Man (@RoyalMan0707) August 31, 2022
