IPL 2017: Chris Lynn, Gautam Gambhir hammer Gujarat Lions; Twitter erupts

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn made mockery of Gujarat Lions’ (GL) bowling attack in their opening match in the 10th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) at Rajkot on Friday. Chasing the target of 184, the opening pair made short work of it by putting up a 100-run opening stand in no time. Both the players raced to their respective fifties in virtually no time, putting KKR in the pole position. While Lynn took just 19 balls to get to the landmark, Gambhir took 33 balls to get to his milestone. In the end, they remained unbeaten as Kolkata beat Gujarat by 10 wickets with more than 5 overs to spare. Lynn scored 93(41)* while Gambhir put up 76(48*).

Both the batsmen were in no mood to allow Gujarat bowlers to settle down. While Lynn, who has a reputation of being a big-hitting batsman in Australia’s domestic T20 tournament Big Bash League (BBL), played the aggressor’s role from the beginning, Gambhir was calmer of the two in the middle. Lynn, the player of BBL for 2016 as well as 2017, struck 4 fours and 5 sixes to get to his fifty. Gambhir on the other hand hit 8 boundaries to complete his record-32nd fifty in IPL. The duo also brought up the highest opening stand for KKR as well as in the history of IPL in the process. Here’s how the Twitterati reacted to the duo’s power hitting:

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

Stunning stuff by Lynn-Gambhir. Gujarat being decimated, bowling thoroughly exposed.Cant see Bravo & Jadeja sitting out any longer #IPL2017

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 7, 2017

Highest opening stand in IPL between Lynn and Gambhir, going past 167 b/w Gayle and Dilshan v PWI in 2013. #GLvKKR

Since Boxing Day 2015 Lynn has scored 1164 runs in 28 innings at an average of 55.43 & 9.18 runs per over, hitting nine 50s & one 100. #IPL

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 7, 2017

 

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 7, 2017

Gambhir-Lynn partnership going bang-bang, boom-boom. Looks like becoming a cakewalk for KKR

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 7, 2017

Monstrous hitting from Chris Lynn making it a compete no contest. Incredible start from @KKRiders well played @GautamGambhir #GLvKKR @IPL

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 7, 2017

50 Of 19 Balls.

Thank God I’m Not Playing Today.#GLvKKR #KKRvGL #IPL2017 #ipl pic.twitter.com/6aIMabgukh

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 7, 2017

Not many better players of spin bowling than Gautum Gambhir #IPL2017 #KKRvsGL

— Temba Bavuma (@tbavuma10) April 7, 2017

KKR making a mockery of the Gujarat Lions’ total. How well has Gambhir played to match what Lynn has done #KKRvsGL

— Milind Sahoo (@milind_sahoo) April 7, 2017

Chris Lynn-Gautam Gambhir opening stand’s now the highest in history of #IPL. They’ve broken Gayle-Dilshan’s record of 167.#GLvKKR #IPL2017 pic.twitter.com/8VzfUWKTtt

— Chinmay Jawalekar

Asking Lynn to open the innings has certainly proved to be a masterstroke for KKR. Lynn had a fantastic BBL this year, where he scored 309 runs in 5 games at 154.50 and a SR of 177.58. He also hit 26 sixes during Brisbane Heat’s campaign.