The Sachinisation of Kohli

If it's an ICC tournament final, rain worries are always around the corner.

last year an ODI final was reduced to 20 overs a side, so might be fitting if a T20 final is reduced to 6 overs a side!!! #wt20

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 6, 2014

Very clever by the ICC. By having the toss delayed due to rain, Americans will feel at home as no American sporting event starts on time.

— Burton DeWitt (@bsd987) April 6, 2014

This is Dhoni's chance to win the elusive 5 over world championship.

— Tony Sebastian (@notytony) April 6, 2014

Thankfully the rain cleared up without reducing the length of the game.

Cricket fans react to the covers being removed as if it's a super model removing her underwear. #IndvSL #WT20

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 6, 2014

Of course, all eyes were on the retiring legends. They'd been on the wrong side of four ICC finals. Fifth time lucky?

The perfect hair & the perfect cover drive. Today elegance leaves cricket's blitzkrieg format. #IndvSL #WT20 pic.twitter.com/XGwx89TR9V

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 6, 2014

It is the 510th International match played together by Jayawardene and Sangakkara - Most by any pair @AltCricket

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 6, 2014

Remember the toss shenanigans at the 2011 World Cup final?

I am not worried about the composition of the India team. I am worried by things like "how many times will they need to toss today" #wt20

— Mohan Krishnamoorthy (@mohank) April 6, 2014

If Sangakkara were the captain, they would have had to put up that 'weak zone' box already and point to his 'calling'. #Re

— K Balakumar (@kbalakumar) April 6, 2014

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl. That immediately ruled out one eventuality.

So MSD will not be hitting the winning Shot !!! #WorldT20

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SAMPATH_B24) April 6, 2014

Good thing SL have Herath in the side, they need to lift both Mahela and Sanga after the match. "For years they carried SL cricket..."

— Tony Sebastian (@notytony) April 6, 2014

Top analysis RT @LalitKModi: India batted first in that 2007 final too and are batting in this one - surely its Jai Ho for our boys! #IndvSL

— Anand Ramachandran (@bigfatphoenix) April 6, 2014

If the final were a style contest, only one team could have won.

Dilshan has a barcode for a goatee.

— Anantha (@anantha) April 6, 2014

Dilshan's beard has mild 'printer cartridge running low on black' feel.

— Anand Ramachandran (@bigfatphoenix) April 6, 2014

Hahahaha #wt20 RT @daddy_san: LMAO #IndvSL pic.twitter.com/USIkJtpOTG

— Mohan Krishnamoorthy (@mohank) April 6, 2014

India got off to a nervous start. Ajinkya Rahane threw it away early, while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli knocked it around. Sri Lanka were nervous too, with Lasith Malinga missing a run out chance with a tough throw to the bowler.

Good start for SL. India 15-1 after 4. Batting like a baby lion born in a zoo. A cagey beginning.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

Malinga's throws also land on the crease. #yorkers #wt20

— HoldingWilley (@holdingwilley) April 6, 2014

It got worse for Malinga, when he dropped the in-form batsman, Virat Kohli, at midwicket.

Herscehelle Gibbs is now trending in Dhaka.

— karachikhatmal (@karachikhatmal) April 6, 2014

Malinga drops Kohli. The kind of drop that will be talked about for years / instantly forgotten about (delete according to result of match)

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

Malignant effort by Sri Lankan captain. Dropping Kohli will kill you.

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) April 6, 2014

ESPN brought the game to the American populace, by showing it live on the ESPN2 channel.

Reading tweets from Americans trying to watch the cricket may be the funniest thing I've seen since I watched Jade Dernbach try to bowl.

— Burton DeWitt (@bsd987) April 6, 2014

Just as India looked set to turn it on, Rohit Sharma popped a catch to Sachithra Senanayake in the covers.

I know Rohit Sharma loves a soft dismissal, but that was softer than Rangana Herath's belly! #INDvSL

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) April 6, 2014

That was the opening Sri Lanka wanted. India sent in Yuvraj Singh, and his scratchy innings cost them plenty.

Love how Herath appeals. Does it with all the excitement of a man who has just put his elbow in a blob of ice cream #wt20

— 51allout (@51allout) April 6, 2014

Kohli carried on where from where he left off in the semi-final.

So Kohli is pretty good in the first innings as well as the second. Maybe his weakness is in the Super Over. Something to be exploited #wt20

— 51allout (@51allout) April 6, 2014

Virat Kohli could probably walk on water right now. Or even log on to IRCTC and book a ticket in one go. #wt20 #IndvSL

— Akhila Ranganna (@akhilar) April 6, 2014

A scientist took the brain of Bevan, the power of Dhoni, the timing of Tendulkar & Kohli was the Frankenstein Monster result. #IndvSL #WT20

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 6, 2014

Yuvraj struggled. And then struggled some more. Dhoni and Raina were stuck on the bench, waiting for a chance.

Yuvraj is probably batting for a retirement plan

— KV (@khushboov) April 6, 2014

Dhoni somehow reminding me of Laurence Fishburne on the bench. Sleepy eyes or summat.

— King Cricket (@TheKingsTweets) April 6, 2014

Yuvraj Singh batting is like that hot dumb blonde in a horror movie whom everyone can't wait to get killed for the story to move on #IndvsSL

— Tyrantasorus (@tyrantasorus) April 6, 2014

Nostalgia is a killer, eh India? #Yuvraj #wt20

— Full Bunger! (@SillyTiddy) April 6, 2014

Yuvraj looks more at sea than all the ships looking for MH370

— Diogeneb (@diogeneb) April 6, 2014

Giving the strike to Yuvraj is Kohli's weak zone.

— karachikhatmal (@karachikhatmal) April 6, 2014

How Virat Kohli sees this pitch |||________________||| How Yuvraj Sigh sees this pitch |||__/\_/\_/\__/\_/\__||| #IndvSL #WT20

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 6, 2014

115-2 off 17. Yuvraj still as fluent as a rhino playing a Chopin piano sonata.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

Yuvraj's struggled ended at 11 off 21 balls, when he holed out in the 19th over from Nuwan Kulasekara.

Hmmmmmm not sure the catch should have been taken #wt20 final

— Darren Sammy (@darrensammy88) April 6, 2014

This is what happens when you hang around with Pakistanis too much lol pic.twitter.com/4SqWvAqvQv

— Ghumman (@Emclub7) April 6, 2014

In 2011 Sachin was retiring so Yuvraj Singh won the world cup for him. So Today he is winning it for Sanga and Mahela #IndvSL

— Abbas Haider (@abbas_haiderr) April 6, 2014

Sri Lanka needed 131, and though India fought hard on the field, it was their game to lose.

pic.twitter.com/ZwsN1158M7

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 6, 2014

Kusal Perera perished early, and India removed Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply too, caught smartly by Kohli on the boundary.

The ball went in the air. Kohli chased it. #kingofthechase

— Sidvee (@sidvee) April 6, 2014

Will Malinga do a Dhoni and bump himself up to no.5 in the batting order at a crucial stage of a run-chase in a world final? Time will tell

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

Between them, Sanga and Mahela have batted for around 1700 hours for SL. The next one could be their most important.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

Sangakkara & Jayawardene batting together. Like watching two superheroes defeat one last enemy before they give it up for an easy life.

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) April 6, 2014

Sri Lanka ticked along calmly as India sought to separate the stalwarts.

Days like this, we could use Ishant Sharma and his lucky wickets #wt20

— Benny (@benny_MD) April 6, 2014

Dhoni needs to whisper pressure... so much pressure to Sanga now

— Monish (@Crownish) April 6, 2014

Jayawardene gave India some hope by swiping straight to midwicket.

Mahela apologizes to Sangakkara with one forlorn, lingering look. Sangakkara replies with a mouthed "I got this, bro. I got this." #INDvSL

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) April 6, 2014

This is the time when Dhoni does his witchcraft, right?

— Sidvee (@sidvee) April 6, 2014

Right on cue, Dhoni took a remarkable catch off the toe-end off Lahiru Thirimanne's bat.

Only some kind of black magic can explain that catch. Outstanding from Dhoni. Game on…#IndvSL #WT20

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 6, 2014

Sri Lanka promoted Thisara Perera ahead of Angelo Mathews.

Thisara walks in. Time for the Doosra.

— Pradeep Ramarathnam (@congusmaximus) April 6, 2014

Now chewing on the missus' fingernails #tuffmatch

— Tony Sebastian (@notytony) April 6, 2014

Needed: urgent SOS for Ravi on air

— Sidvee (@sidvee) April 6, 2014

I'm back. 34 off 32 to win. India need a wicket. And then Yuvraj to bat for SL.

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) April 6, 2014

India's challenge wilted in the face of some big hits from both Sangakkara and Thisara.

Dhoni's gift to Kohli, should make him bowl the next over which will also be the last over

— Tony Sebastian (@notytony) April 6, 2014

Thisara wrapped up the win with a couple of big hits off R Ashwin. Cue - jubilant celebrations in the Sri Lankan camp. Disappointment for India fans?

Yawn! It was just another India-Lanka match. No one in India was watching.

— Faking News (@fakingnews) April 6, 2014

Only India can win the IPL #consolation

— Tony Sebastian (@notytony) April 6, 2014

Ah, the sour grapes routine.

Congratulations England, the only team to beat Sri Lanka, the WT20 champions

— Simon Wilde (@swildecricket) April 6, 2014

Yuvraj is now a World Cup hero for 2 countries. #legend

— AmBiVan (@AmBiVan) April 6, 2014

Sri Lankan cricket board is 70mil in debt. Has not paid it's players in recent times. And they just beat the richest cricket nation ever

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) April 6, 2014

Few more expressive faces than Mahela's. The eyes of an orphaned puppy in defeat. The smile of a child being given a puppy in victory.

— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) April 6, 2014

plans for open bus parade in mumbai cancelled - vendor to charge 50% cancellation fee

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 6, 2014

It was a fairly emotional presentation ceremony, with Sangakkara winning Man of the Match award. Kohli took the Player of theTournament gong.

I think every SL captain has finally got his hands on the cup

— Sidvee (@sidvee) April 6, 2014

With this win, Chandimal walks into the record books with a halo of asterisk around his head.

— K Balakumar (@kbalakumar) April 6, 2014

Winning Man Of the Tournament in a lost tournament. The Sachinization of Virat Kohli is now complete.

— Shreyas (@TheNaique) April 6, 2014

Five different winners in five editions of the World T20. Who's going to win the next one?

#WT20 2009: Winner - PAK Host - ENG 2010: Winner - ENG Host - WI 2012: Winner - WI Host - SL 2014: Winner - #SL Host - BAN #GoodLuckBAN

— Sidath Sameera (@SidathSam) April 6, 2014

So it came to be, that two of the nicest champions in the game got a fitting farewell from the shortest format of the game.

Mahela shadow-bats the slog that got him out. Sanga chuckles, puts his arm around him. They walk into the sunset. [fade to black]

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) April 6, 2014

.@MahelaJay & @KumarSanga2 sign off from T20Is in style helping Sri Lanka win the #wt20 2014 #TwitterMirror pic.twitter.com/jpUnps2zFE

— ICC (@ICC) April 6, 2014