Rajasthan Royals have already set numerous records in this season, especially after defeating Kings XI Punjab in a record chase by 4 wickets.
Chasing a mammoth target of 224 runs, the side was in a position of losing at one point until Rahul Tewatia turned the course of the match. After losing the wicket of skipper Steve Smith (50), Rahul Tewatia came in to bat at number 4.
The management sent the all rounder to clear as many balls for sixes and support Sanju Samson by easing off the run-chase. However, that did not happen as Tewatia played so many dot balls, and the pressure shifted towards the Royals. He even failed to connect the bat with the ball as the run rate pressure mounted.
“They were the worst 20 balls I have ever played,” Tewatia said.
The southpaw hit his first boundary in his 19th delivery and took his score to 9 runs off 19 balls. The RR dugout slowly became nervy with each dot ball he played.
And then, the side lost Sanju Samson (85) in the 16.1 over who then seemed only hope of pulling the victory for the side. After his dismissal, Rajasthan Royals needed 51 runs off 18 balls which looked humongous.
Tewatia charged the gear as he went on to hit five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell’s over and changed the expected outside of the game upside down.
“I was hitting the ball really well in the nets so I had the belief in myself. I was not hitting the ball well initially, then I saw in the dugout, everybody was curious because they know that I can hit the ball long. At once I thought that I have to believe in myself and it was a matter of just one six,” he said.
Tewatia scored 30 runs in one over
The southpaw astonishingly completed his half century off 30 balls as he struck 7 sixes in the last nine balls. Rajasthan only needed 21 runs off 12 balls which Jofra Archer and Tom Curran easily chased down in the end.
“After that [one six] I thought not it is time to get going. And then hitting five in the over felt amazing. Coach sent me to hit some sixes off the leg spinner, but unfortunately, I didn’t hit him so I had to hit the other bowlers,” Tewatia concluded.
Rajasthan Royals bettered their own record of chasing the highest total in the history of IPL. They had chased the target of 215 runs set by the Deccan Chargers back in 2008 by scoring 217/7.
