'Rahul ke jgh open kra lo Lucknow ke liye' - Fans react as Gautam Gambhir smashes third successive fifty in Legends League Cricket 2023

Gautam Gambhir (left) and Robin Uthappa (right) (Source - Twitter)

India Maharajas finally got on the winning track with a commendable 10-wicket win over Asia Lions on Tuesday. Despite back-to-back defeats in the first two matches, they bounced back in style to thrash the table-toppers after a spirited batting display by openers Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha. Chasing 158, Uthappa amassed a quick fire half century, and Gambhir smashed his third successive fifty of the tournament to hand Maharajas their first win in the Legends League Cricket 2023.

Former India cricketers Uthappa and Gambhir put on an unbeaten 159-run partnership for the first wicket with the right-hander playing at a strike rate of 225 including 11 boundaries and five sixes. Gambhir, who scored a 29-ball half-century in the last match, did not silence his bat this time either, scoring 61 runs off 36 balls with 12 boundaries. The Maharajas skipper had been a lone fighter in their previous two matches, failing to get support from the other batters.

Former Sri Lankan pair's fight went in vain

Earlier, India Maharajas, who chose to field first, restricted Misbah-ul-Haq-led Asia Lions to 157 for 5 in 20 overs. Former Sri Lankan players Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan hammered the opposition bowlers, scoring 69 off 48 balls and 32 off 27 balls respectively. The two put on an opening partnership of 73 runs in 8.4 overs, but the fight went in vain as none of the batter batters could step up for their side. Suresh Raina took two wickets and Pravin Tambe, Harbhajan Singh and Stuart Binny took one each for Maharajas.

A Lok Sabha member, Gambhir is also the mentor of the Lucknow franchise in the Indian T20 League. Uthappa, who has played for various franchises in the ITL while last playing for Chennai, retired from all formats of cricket last year. He was a regular feature for Chennai in their middle order in ITL 2022. The 16th edition of the franchise T20 League will begin from March 31 when defending champions Gujarat Titans take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the curtain raiser at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Here's how Twitter reacted to Gambhir's innings: 

Thankfully, he won tonight. Would have been a dull tournament otherwise 👍

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) March 14, 2023

Choose your idol wisely who performs in field not in nets.

— Lala (@FabulasGuy) March 14, 2023

10 wickets se harra de Bas🙏🏻🙏🏻

— Sunny Cricket (@CricketKiBaat18) March 14, 2023

Better than dhobi😭

— 🫵🏻 (@guillotineeee_) March 14, 2023

Gautam Gambhir should be played IPL instead of KL Rahul 😅😅 pic.twitter.com/6sLNIzdL98

— Ibrahimpinjarii (@Ibrahimpinjarie) March 14, 2023

Can walk into current Indian team

— Alpha | Kochi Tuskers Kerala (@alphamale_007_) March 14, 2023

Owning Pakistan player's is no new to him

— Broken 💔 (@naanepaavam0) March 14, 2023

Jis trah ye khel rha h isko hi Rahul ke jgh open kra lo LSG ke liye 🤣

— Aashish Kumar (@kr_sarcastic) March 14, 2023