"Tuk tuk academy ka principal" - Hardik Pandya mercilessly trolled on Twitter after scoring 21 off 20 balls in IND vs NZ 1st T20I

Team India captain Hardik Pandya failed to deliver in the first T20I against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday, January 27.

Coming in at No. 5, the all-rounder rescued the Men in Blue from 15/3 but departed after just 21 off 20 balls while chasing 177. The right-hander was caught and bowled by Michael Bracewell as the hosts were reduced to 89/5 in 12.2 overs.

Pandya's dismissal came in the following over after Suryakumar Yadav departed for his well-made 47, dampening India’s hopes of winning the contest.

The Baroda all-rounder scored 45 runs at an average of 15 in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier in the year, which Team India won 2-1.

Fans expressed disgust at Hardik Pandya for failing to play a match-winning knock under pressure. Some of them also questioned his leadership.

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions:

---

Mitchell Santner's New Zealand beat Hardik Pandya-led India in 1st T20I to take 1-0 lead in the series

After losing the ODI series 3-0, New Zealand finally tasted victory in T20I under Mitchell Santner. The all-rounder guided the visitors to a 21-run win against India in the first T20I in Ranchi.

Sent in to bat first, a clinical batting performance from Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway helped the visitors post 176/6 in their allotted 20 overs. While Mitchell scored an unbeaten 59 off 30 balls, Conway struck a quickfire 35-ball 52. Together, the duo hit six maximums and 10 boundaries. Opener Finn Allen also contributed 35 runs to the total.

Washington Sundar scalped two wickets for Team India, while Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Mavi, and Arshdeep Singh settled for one wicket apiece.

In response, the hosts could only score 155/9 in 20 overs. All-rounder Washington Sundar top-scored with 50 off 28 balls but wickets continued to fall on the other end.

Santner, Bracewell, and Lockie Ferguson scalped two wickets each for the Blackcaps, while Ish Sodhi took a solitary wicket.

The two teams will next face off at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, January 29.