‘Two sides of the same coin’ — this phrase doesn’t suites anyone else more than Rahul Tewatia. He was the villain of the match for Rajasthan Royals but soon he became their hero as he turned the fate of the game.
On Sunday, chasing a record total of 224 runs, Rahul Tewatia walked out to bat at no.4 after the dismissal of Steve Smith. The team was badly in need of someone who could get going with the same pace as Steve Smith. However, Rahul Tewatia struggled to get going and his score read 17 off 23. Rajasthan Royals still needed 51 off the last three overs.
Surprisingly, Rahul Tewatia soon switched the gear and gave the cricket fans a treat for their eyes. He smashed Sheldon Cottrell for 30 runs in an over, 5 sixes. His unbelievable innings of 31-ball 53 helped
Rajasthan Royals successfully chase down a record total of 224 defeating Kings XI Punjab by 4 wickets.
After the match, the hero of the match,
Rahul Tewatia talked about the initial stage of his knock where he was struggling. Calling it as the ‘worst balls he ever played’, Rahul said:
“Now, I’m better. That was the worst first 20 balls that I have ever played. I was hitting the ball very good in the nets, so I had belief in myself and kept going. I was not hitting the ball well initially, I saw in the dug-out, everybody was curious because they know that I can hit the ball long,”
Talking about the five-sixes off an over, Rahul said:
“I thought I had to believe in myself. It was a matter of one six, after that, I got going. Five in an over went amazing. Coach sent me to hit sixes off the leg-spinner, but unfortunately, I didn’t hit him. Ultimately, I hit off the other bowlers,”
