As every year passes by, social media continues to grow bigger and better, just like the game of cricket. Without social media, there is hardly anything and even the cricketers spend quite some time on it. Be it debates, compliments, best wishes, disappointments or anything else, social media has it all.
There is a lot that happened on the field this year. The World Cup final, the Leeds Test in the Ashes, another Super Over between England and New Zealand, the heist from Kusal Perera and many more. All of these receive special mentions on Twitter. Also, year after year, there are some tweets that are special. They are remembered for a long time.
Here are the top 10 cricketing tweets of the year:
1. Virat Kohli’s goes nostalgic
Virat Kohli is pretty active on social media. He often promotes the brands he’s tied up with and also, likes posting pictures of himself, with his wife Anushka Sharma and a few others as well. However, he decided to go nostalgic in September.
The Indian captain posted a picture with MS Dhoni. It was one from India’s win over Australia in the World T20 2016. Kohli’s knock of 82 had helped India pull off a fabulous win and Dhoni had played second fiddle in that game. The duo ran super hard between the wickets and that made the difference as well.
Kohli put up the picture and captioned it, “A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test”. That went absolutely viral. In fact, people even speculated Dhoni’s retirement.
A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test 😄 @msdhoni 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/pzkr5zn4pG
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 12, 2019
2. Jimmy Neesham tweeting after the 2019 World Cup
The 2019 World Cup final was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the history of cricket. Both teams, England and New Zealand gave it all. It was a game for the ages and worthy of a World Cup final and arguably the best ODI in the history of the game.
New Zealand scored 241 batting first, England replicated that and ended with 241 in their 50 overs. In the Super Over, England scored 15 while New Zealand chased that down and finished with 15. However, a controversial boundary-count rule which was scrapped a few months later meant that England were World Champions. While England deserved it for the way they played, not only in the World Cup but also in the past four years but New Zealand didn’t deserve to lose it either.
It was a game that affected the lives of the Kiwi players as it wasn’t easy to take what had unfolded. But they carried themselves wonderfully and their behaviour after the loss was top-notch as well. It wasn’t a surprise when they won the ICC Spirit of Cricket award. However, Jimmy Neesham had taken to Twitter to express his feelings and in a series of tweets, he poured his heart out.
The final was heart-breaking, nerve-wrenching and nail-biting and Neesham was clearly affected by it. In his last tweet, he also asked kids not to take up sport and die really fat and happy at 60.
That hurts. Hopefully there’s a day or two over the next decade where I don’t think about that last half hour. Congratulations @ECB_cricket , well deserved.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 14, 2019
Thank you to all the supporters that came out today. We could hear you the whole way. Sorry we couldn’t deliver what you so badly wanted.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019
Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019
3. Harsha Bhogle comes out in Ashwin’s defence over Mankading
There was one incident in the IPL this year that took world cricket by storm. It had happened as early as the fourth game of the 12th edition. Rajasthan Royals (RR) were playing Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Chris Gayle’s 79 helped KXIP reach 184 but Jos Buttler helped RR fight back.
RR were going well and were 108/1 in the 13th over. On what was supposed to be the fifth ball of the over, KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin decided to send world cricket in a frenzy. He ran Buttler out for backing up too far. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner paused in his delivery stride and took the bails off and caught Buttler out of his crease.
That dismissal derailed RR’s chase (they needed 77 off 43 balls at that time) and they eventually lost by 14 runs. Ashwin’s actions drew heavy criticism from all over the world. Most of them were against him. But cricket commentator and analyst Harsha Bhogle came out in Ashwin’s defence. He was on air when the dismissal took place and called it a legitimate mode of dismissal.
There was a lot of talk about ‘Spirit of Cricket’ as well but Bhogle cleared the air on Twitter. He said it was unfair that batsmen were running six inches less to complete a run.
I am hearing a lot of talk about spirit of the game. This law specifically came in because, taking recourse to this very "spirit of the game" batsmen were running 6 inches less to complete a run.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019
4. ‘Every Ben Stokes needs a Jack Leach’
2019 has been the year of Ben Stokes. Be it the World Cup or the Ashes, he was England’s go-to man, especially with the bat. He was the lone warrior on multiple occasions. After a dramatic World Cup final, Stokes was in the middle of another dramatic game in the Ashes.
England were 0-1 down and in the third Test, they were chasing 359 to level the series and keep the Ashes alive. They had already been bowled out for 67 in the first innings but they did fight in the second essay. Joe Denly and Joe Root scored fifties and resurrected the innings after an early stumble. Jonny Bairstow and Stokes carried the innings forward after that but England slumped from 245/4 to 286/9 and the game seemed dead and buried.
Jack Leach joined Stokes in the middle as the latter tried to keep the chase alive. The all-rounder kept going after the bowlers and kept reducing the deficit. Leach complemented him well as he played out a ball or two at the end of every over. Stokes continued to smash his way through and when two runs were needed, Leach was almost runout and it was Nathan Lyon who missed the chance at the non-striker’s end.
In the very next over, Leach blocked out the first two balls before scrambling for a single on the third ball to level the scores. It was his first run of the innings and perhaps, the most important run of his career. Stokes finished things off on the next ball to lead England to a heroic and a miraculous win.
Thus, Stokes received praise from all over the world but Leach played his part too. And the following tweet summed it up nicely:
Every Ben Stokes needs a Jack Leach.
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) August 25, 2019
5. Jimmy Neesham takes a dig at ICC
The 2019 World Cup final was (if not the best) one of the best-ever ODI matches of all-time. The normal 50-over game was tied before the Super Over which was played as a tie-breaker went on and ended as a tie as well. England won the final on the virtue of scoring more boundaries and lifted the World Cup title and it was heart-break for New Zealand.
Super Overs were introduced for the first time in this World Cup and it was only to decide the winners of the semi-final and final in case of a tie. However, even if the Super Over was tied, the team that scored more boundaries were to be declared as winners. That’s how the final was decided and the rule was heavily criticized as it was unfair on New Zealand who were on the receiving end of it.
Thus, ICC scraped that rule in October and stated that there will be continuous Super Overs until one team has scored more runs than the other. Jimmy Neesham who isn’t shy to express himself retweeted CricBuzz’s tweet which stated the rule change. Taking a dig at ICC, his retweet read, “Next on the agenda: Better binoculars for the Ice spotters on the Titanic.”
Next on the agenda: Better binoculars for the Ice spotters on the Titanic https://t.co/nwUp4Ks3Mp
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) October 14, 2019
6. Virat Kohli’s tweet on the 87-year-old Charulata Patel
India had a phenomenal run in the World Cup. They did not lose a game in the group stages and suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the semi-final. But there was one moment that won over everybody’s hearts during the World Cup. There was an 87-year-old Superfan in the stands cheering Virat Kohli and his men.
Age is just a number and Charulata Patel summed up that saying perfectly. She was seen in India’s game against Bangladesh in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The 87-year-old was even interviewed by the official broadcaster. Patel was seen on a wheelchair, blowing vuvuzela and cheering for the Indian team.
After the game, Kohli and Rohit Sharma even took time out to meet Patel. The Indian captain took to Twitter and sent out a heartfelt message for her as well. In fact, she also got tickets for India’s next game which was against Sri Lanka.
Also would like to thank all our fans for all the love & support & especially Charulata Patel ji. She's 87 and probably one of the most passionate & dedicated fans I've ever seen. Age is just a number, passion takes you leaps & bounds. With her blessings, on to the next one. 🙏🏼😇 pic.twitter.com/XHII8zw1F2
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 2, 2019
7. Ian Bishop on Papua New Guinea’s qualification for 2020 T20 World Cup
This year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier was one of the big highlights in world cricket. It gave a story for everybody to remember. People talk about Afghanistan’s rise in cricket in this 2010s-decade and it has ended with another inspiring story, the story of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Nobody had expected them to qualify for next year’s T20 World Cup. However, they beat all odds and rose above all expectation and sealed one spot in the mega event which is scheduled to be played in Australia. They lost just one game on their way to the finals and found ways to come back from the toughest of situations as well.
They did lose the final but they won all hearts and were the team of the tournament. Former cricketer turned commentator Ian Bishop was spot on with his views which he put on Twitter.
It’s not news that may be resonating with as many fans around the world as it should But the fact that Papua New Guinea have qualified for their first Men’s T20 World Cup in 2020 is one of modern crickets amazing feel good stories.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) October 27, 2019
8. Amitabh’s tweet after Virat Kohli’s 94 takes India home against West Indies
In the first T20I against West Indies, India were chasing a stiff target of 208. The famed West Indian batting line-up lived up to expectation and put on a huge score. India didn’t get off to the best of starts as Rohit Sharma was dismissed early (for 8) and they were 30/1.
That’s when skipper Virat Kohli joined KL Rahul in the middle. The latter was going well but Kohli struggled to find his flow. Rahul kept the scoreboard ticking and kept finding the boundaries as the Indian skipper reached 20 off 20 and later, 26 off 25 balls. However, Kohli top-edged a six off Jason Holder and then a couple of overs later, Rahul was dismissed. That got him going.
The Delhi lad was in the zone and belted the bowlers around. He was involved in an intense battle with Kesrick Williams as well. In fact, Kohli mocked the pacer’s notebook celebration after smashing him for a six. Kohli pulled India through and took them home with a fine knock of 94 not out.
Amitabh Bachchan who is an active Twitter user tweeted a famous dialogue from his old movie, Amar Akbar Anthony. It went viral on Twitter and also drew a comment from Kohli himself.
T 3570 –
यार कितनी बार बोला मई तेरे को .. की Virat को मत छेड़ , मत छेड़ , मत छेड़ …
पन सुनताइच किधर है तुम …
अभी पर्ची लिख के दे दिया ना हाथ में !!!!
😜👏🤪
देख देख .. WI का चेहरा देख ; कितना मारा उसको , कितना मारा !!
( with due respects to Anthony bhai , of AAA ) pic.twitter.com/BypjyHdA86— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 6, 2019
9. Ambati Rayudu’s 3D tweet
Ambati Rayudu has had a very controversial career so far. He’s often been in the limelight for his off-field issues. However, in the lead up to the World Cup, he was deemed as India’s No. 4 and was even spoken highly by skipper Virat Kohli.
However, 2019 brought a change in form for the worse for Rayudu and the runs dried up. Thus, he was dropped from the 15-man squad for the World Cup and Vijay Shankar was picked ahead of him. The chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad justified Shankar’s selection and termed him as a ‘three-dimensional player’.
Rayudu was clearly disappointed with his non-selection. He played most of India’s game since the Asia Cup in September 2018 and suddenly, found himself out of the team. Thus, he took his frustration out on Twitter as he tweeted, “Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup” and took a dig at the selectors.
Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup 😉😋..
— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) April 16, 2019
10. Virender Sehwag trolls himself
Virender Sehwag is one of the light-hearted cricketers. After retiring from the game, he has taken social media to another level. His tweets are humorous and very witty as well. Moreover, people enjoy it as well.
In one of this year’s tweets, he even trolled himself. Back in 2011, Sehwag was struggling with a shoulder injury. He underwent surgery after the 2011 IPL as well. The Delhi dasher missed the first two Tests which India lost and flew in for the third game in Birmingham. He was not even fully fit and yet, he featured in the XI. India’s misery continued as they lost that Test as well.
Sehwag registered a king pair as he was out on the first ball of both innings. He recalled that on the 12th of August this year and said that he unwillingly paid tribute to Aryabhata.
On this day 8 years ago, I scored a king pair vs England in Birmingham after flying for 2 days to reach England and fielding 188 overs. Unwillingly paid tribute to Aryabhatta 🙂
If there was zero chance of failure, what would you do ? If you have it figured, do that ! pic.twitter.com/7VchCDASh8— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 12, 2019
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