Twitter reactions on Vijay Shankar’s 46 in 2nd ODI: Twitter was loud and clear about the all-rounder making it to the World Cup squad.
During the second ODI of the ongoing Australia’s tour of India at Nagpur, India all-rounder Vijay Shankar made a staggering influence on one and all with his awe-inspiring knock.
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After not getting to bat in the first ODI at Hyderabad, Shankar was sent up the batting order at No. 5 in the afternoon. Shankar’s presence in the middle was doubtlessly India’s best period of their innings which saw them getting bundled out for 250 in 48.2 overs.
Shankar stitched an 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket alongside India captain Virat Kohli. Outscoring the skipper, Shankar ended up scoring 46 (41) with the help of five fours and a six.
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While it was Kohli who welcomed Shankar in the middle by hitting a couple of fours off Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa in the 18th over, Shankar didn’t take much time in taking control from the leader.
On the first ball of the 21st over, Shankar punched a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery through the off-side for a boundary. Among his five fours, the best one came off Coulter-Nile in the 25th over when Shankar hit an elegant off-drive.
ALSO READ: Twitter reactions on Virat Kohli’s 40th ODI century.
Australia captain Aaron Finch introduced all-rounder Marcus Stoinis into the attack for the first time in the 27th over. Taking on Stoinis, Shankar hit a four and a six off the Australian medium-pacer as he looked set for a dominating innings.
Having said that, what didn’t go towards the 28-year old cricketer’s way was his luck. On the penultimate delivery of the 29th over, Kohli’s straight drive off Zampa touched the bowler’s hand on its way to the stumps. Backing up too far, Shankar was unfortunately found short of the crease at the non-striker’s end.
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Shankar pressing his case
The two times when Shankar has batted in ODIs, he has oozed signs of brilliance. While he scored 45 after coming in to bat at 18-4 in the 10th over against New Zealand at Hamilton last month, he scored a brisk 46 today.
Him also scoring runs in the T20I series against New Zealand in addition to today’s innings, Shankar has continued to press his case for a spot in the Indian squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
While an official confirmation on the same will take time, users on social media platform Twitter seemed to have pass their verdict already.