3rd Test: Twitterati salute Hardik Pandya for his breathtaking maiden century

New Delhi, Aug 13: India middle-order batsman Hardik Pandya slammed his career's maiden first-class century on the second day of the third Test match at Pallekele here on Sunday (August 13).

Pandya struck a magnificent century off just 86 deliveries, which comprised seven fours and as many sixes, to bring up the fastest century by an Indian batting at number 8.

It was the best session of first-class cricket by Pandya as he stitched two fifty-plus partnerships with tail-enders Kuldeep Yadav and Umesh Yadav to reach his maiden ton.

A blistering knock from the Baroda all-rounder changed the course of the game in an hour as he brought his team into driver's seat.

The right-handed batsman, playing only his third Test, switched to top gear after completing his second fifty in the longer format of the game. He finished the session with an unbeaten 108 (107 runs in the session) and India finished with 487/9 and put hosts on the back foot.

He was, however, dismissed by Lakshan Sandakan in the very first over of the post-lunch session and couldn't add any runs to his total.

Sri Lanka were actually in a good position in the first hour of the game as they got three Indian wickets, but their strategy faltered in front of Pandya's onslaught who smashed 26 runs off Malinda Pushpakumara over and cleared his intentions. It was Pandya's innings in the pre-lunch session that India amassed 158 runs in less than 30 overs.

Pandya's breathtaking knock was applauded by cricketers and enthusiasts equally as the all-rounder announced his arrival on the bigger stage in style.

Here's who reacted on Twitter and how, watching Hardik Pandya explode: