Exclusive: That game in Sharjah will always be special to me, said Rahul Tewatia-News

Rahul Tewatia’s road to success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been long and tortuous. After starting his journey in 2014, the all-around player from Haryana is still on the verge. He has worked for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and King Eleven Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings). Did not have a profound impact.

But after being brought back by the Royal Team, Tewatia’s fate in Sharjah changed last year.

After chasing 223 points in the game against Kings XI Punjab, the Royals lost their way after Tewatia. Tewatia has appreciated Yuvraj Singh’s effortless 6 shots from an early age, hitting 8 of 19 goals. As the team needed 51 of the 18 goals, Tewatia found his magic, hitting Sheldon Cottrell’s five six-pointers in the 18th game, setting the tone for the most dramatic victory in IPL history.

The knock on the door in Sharjah proved the catalyst for Tewatia’s rise, as he ended the 2020 IPL season with 255 runs and 10 wickets, and was finally selected for the first time in India to participate in the England T20I series earlier this year.

When accepting an exclusive interview Khalij Times, The 28-year-old all-around player said that the UAE will always hold a special place in his heart.

Q: You are now back to the UAE to participate in the remaining IPL competitions. It was here last year, your performance won you national recognition…

It feels so good to be back in the UAE. When I came here with the Rajasthan Royal team last year, I participated in a great game. Therefore, you are always positive about going back to where you did well in the past. This gives you a lot of confidence.

Q. There are many big-name RR foreign players who are absent this time. Your responsibility will be greater. Are you ready for the challenge?

Absolutely. Since I started to excel in the UAE last year, my responsibilities in the team have become greater. As a terminator, I play an important role in the low-end. This is a big responsibility. Yes, we lack some big-name players, but at the same time, we have some very good substitute players. So to be honest, the absence of some big-name players did not really bother us. The team we have now is our best team. All the players on the team are able to play well, which is why they participate in the IPL competition.

Q: The arrival of Tabraiz Shamsi will strengthen the Royals’ rotating attack. You are the leg spinner, he is the left arm spinner. Are you looking forward to bowling with him?

It depends on what combination the team management wants to play and who they want to play. But yes, he is the world’s number one spinner in T20 international cricket, so it is great to have him join our Rajasthan Royal team. I look forward to working with him. During the training, I talked a lot with him. There is no doubt that he is a good addition to our team.

Q: Your fearless attitude towards cricket is amazing. Have you been a fearless player since the youth cricket era?

Yes, I have always been fearless about cricket, especially when it comes to batting. I never had two ideas when hitting the ball. But yes, I will also play according to the situation, because you must also be smart. You must be able to make the right decision at the right time.

Q: The Royals have many talented young Indian players…

The Royals are always known for giving opportunities to young players. They not only give you opportunities, but also support you and give you confidence. They let you express yourself so you can play freely. Even if you fail, they will support you 100%. This kind of support is very important for young people. So when I returned to the Rajasthan Royals, they gave me this role and they said they would support me in getting a low-end run. So it is very important to give young people a chance and support them. The Royals do this every year.

Question: Finally, we have to ask you this question. In that dramatic game, you scored 5 6s in Sharjah and the famous 5 six-pointers in Sharjah. Is this the greatest moment in your life?

Yes, that kind of game will obviously become very memorable if you play. In India, Sharjah is known as Sachin Tendulkar. You know that he played an important role in those great centuries against Australia (the 1998 desert storm). So going to the same place and hitting those five 6s to help the Royals win that game is obviously one of the sweetest memories in my life. That game in Sharjah will always be special to me. I will never forget this.

Ritulaj Borkacotti

As a big fan of the Argentine national football team, Rituraj usually writes sports articles. But he cherishes the time spent in interviews with his favorite musicians from the Indian state of Assam. He likes to bring interesting human stories to the readers of Khaleej Times.