In the 14th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by eight wickets. Riding on a stellar bowling performance in the first innings and Rahul Tripathi’s amazing half-century, SRH registered their first victory of the season while PBKS faced its first loss in three games. However, for his valiant batting performance, PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan has been awarded Player of the Match.
Dhawan with his amazing batting held an end for PBKS and helped the visitors to post a competitive total. In his innings, Dhawan scored 99 runs off 66 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and five sixes. He hammered SRH bowlers with a strike rate of 150. Meanwhile, after receiving the award Dhawan engaged in banter with famous presenter Harsha Bhogle over his viral Tweet about Dhawan’s strike rate.
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Bhogle and Dhawan were having a chat when Dhawan pointed out Bhogle’s tweet. “I didn’t expect that I’d reach there at the end of the game but I was playing according to the situation, still keeping positive and I hope you were happy with my strike rate as you tweeted something,” Dhawan said after bagging the Player of the Match award.
’30 balls at run-a-ball can hurt’ – Harsha Bhogle had questioned Dhawan’s approach
Notably, Shikhar Dhawan’s strike rate during Punjab Kings’ victory over Rajasthan Royals on April 5 was criticized by Harsha Bhogle. After overcoming a poor start, Dhawan scored 86 runs off just 56 balls. According to Bholge, the PBKS captain was anchoring at the beginning of his innings during the partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 60 runs off 34 deliveries.
Bhogle Tweeted, “Shikhar Dhawan’s innings will raise, should raise, the question of whether you can have an anchor batter, especially in these conditions. you can appear to have increased your strike rate by the end but the 30 balls at run-a-ball can hurt.”
Here is how fans react to Shikhar Dhawan’s comment:
if you missed the context behind this, here you gohttps://t.co/5x0pDKJ63H
— Swaroop D (@swaroopspaces) April 9, 2023
this one line of Dhawan is just a very polite way of reading out this to Harsha pic.twitter.com/vV6N0bBd6d
— Swaroop D (@swaroopspaces) April 10, 2023
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) April 9, 2023
Better Then So Called Big Fan Base Players?
— Guri Pbks (@Guri_Pbks) April 9, 2023
that was such an awkward interview with many fake smiles and unlike bhogle questions
— Harish (@thebr0kendream) April 9, 2023
@bhogleharsha are you happy with 154 or you need 254 in the context of this game .
— Manas ?? (@Manasrb2) April 10, 2023
Harsha in his mind pic.twitter.com/8zb7xTbBQR
— Anirban Ghosh????????????????????????????????????? (@Anirban_Ghosh_) April 9, 2023
he can be the anchor in the India side staying till the end while also maintaining 130+ strike rate
— alferb2004 (@alferb2004) April 9, 2023
Dhawan and Rahane could play major role in upcoming WC and WTC in phase where Pant and Iyer is injured
— Kaustubh?? (@MiKaustubhMP) April 9, 2023
??? pic.twitter.com/bi7spJozaT
— supremo ` (@hyperKohli) April 9, 2023
Instead of kishan he should be backup opener
— FitCricPol (@cri_fit) April 9, 2023
Why did they drop him …he was not out of form .. he was playing well too .. tf happened
— known (@m1kaasackermAn) April 9, 2023
Yrr Dhawan Ko T20 Wc me lo yr opening me.. ?
— Beyond (@Dex_Ankan) April 10, 2023
Shikhar Dhawan should be in ICC WC
— Sai Kiran (@SaiKira82661429) April 9, 2023
