IPL 2018: How Twitter is bringing players closer off the field

It took until the final match of the group stage to decide the four teams that would qualify for the IPL playoffs. That’s how cut-throat the competition has been this season. It goes without saying then, that the on-field rivalry has gone up a few notches as well.

Amidst all the rivalry and competition though, players have found a way to be nice to each other off the field. Here’s a look at five Tweets that show how the platform and IPL are bringing players from all over closer to each other.

1. Rishabh Pant smashed a cracking 63-ball 128, and Suresh Raina couldn’t help but shower the left-hander with praise.

Can't believe what I just saw! Still remember the 97 he scored against GL last year. Unbelievable hitting from @RishabPant777. Great going my boy. Keep it up. #DDvSRH #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/AK3mpC29Bx

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) May 10, 2018

2. The football World Cup is around the corner, and with it comes the jersey swaps! KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya took the football fever onto the cricket field by exchanging jerseys after a hard-fought match. Hardik later Tweeted a clip of this, to showcase his bromance with Rahul.

Play hard, play fair! Respect comes first. ✊🏽Super knock, by a super player and an even better friend @klrahul11 #MIvKXIP @mipaltan @lionsdenkxip pic.twitter.com/dNvF7BUqn0

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) May 17, 2018

3. Rashid Khan was the man to put Afghanistan on the IPL map, and he’s certainly caught everyone’s eye after that. One man who has caught Rashid Khan’s eye though is KL Rahul.

Thank you legend! 😀🙏🏽 @rashidkhan_19 https://t.co/tJk9ETC8Xq

— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) May 14, 2018

4. Is there anyone out there who isn’t in awe of AB de Villiers? Probably not! Well in this IPL he’s done some stunning things, and that’s prompted Jos Buttler and Alex Hales to pit AB as one of the greatest of all time.

🐐

— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) April 21, 2018

5. Mitchell McClenaghan on finding it hard to stop Buttler

One big reason for Rajasthan making it to the playoffs is the form of Jos Buttler. His unbeaten 94 against Mumbai played a huge part in his side’s progress and Mitchell McClenaghan bore the brunt of it. After the match though, he was all praise for his opponent!

Outplayed tonight by @josbuttler - hard to stop a serious player when they are in that vein of form! Need to go 2 from 2 now but we are still in the hunt!

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) May 13, 2018