GT vs RCB: “You Have To Finish Games, Never Mind The Target” - Rahul Tewatia After GT's Win Over RCB
Published - 30 Apr 2022, 10:43 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:06 AM
Gujarat Titans (GT) Rahul Tewatia played a huge role in them registering their 8th win in 9 matches in the ongoing IPL 2022 as they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 43rd match of the IPL 2022 which was played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Chasing 171 to win, Gujarat Titans were put into a bit of trouble by RCB spinners Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/26) came into action as GT lost 4 wickets for 95 runs in 13th over. Wriddhiman Saha (29) and Shubman Gill (31) started off well, but then Hardik Pandya made 3 and Sai Sudharshan fell for 20 runs.
Then Rahul Tewatia and David Miller came together. Tewatia in particular was coming off a brilliant finish against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their previous match and continued that confidence in this chase as well.
Miller gave him great support and made 39* in 24 balls with 4 fours and 1 six, as they added 79* unbeaten runs for the 5th wicket. Rahul Tewatia remained unbeaten on 43 in 25 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes and took the GT team to the win by 6 wickets in hand.
Tewatia was named the Player of the Match for his knock and was elated to get the award.
He said: “I can’t say that I stay cool during chases, but a lot of things will be going beneath, as to how to take it forward, which bowler to target and which areas to hit. I then try and follow the plans. In the death overs, you’d need to play some pre-planned shots, but I certainly look at the field and then look at the ball before hitting. So, if the ball is outside off, I will look to go over the off-side, if it’s on the stumps, I play the leg-side shots. I have bettered my off-side game during this tournament, the bowlers had planned to keep fielders in the off-side, so I knew it I could hit the gaps, I could get the boundaries, I have opened up both sides of the ground now. You have to finish games, never mind the target. The pitches have been really good, you can chase even 60 runs off the final 5 overs. I have spent a lot of time with him (Miller), we were together at PBKS for a year, with RR for a couple of years, so we have a good bonding, we talk about finishing games even in the nets. I have the belief in myself that I can finish games as long as I stay in the middle.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore Rejoice As Virat Kohli Scores A Half-Century
Earlier, RCB captain Faf du Plessis had won the toss and chose to bat in the day game. Unfortunately, he got out for a duck, but then Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar added 99 runs. Patidar made 52 in 32 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
It was a joyous occasion for Kohli, as he scored his first half-century this season and made 58 in 53 balls. Some death overs hitting from Glenn Maxwell with 33 in 18 balls and Mahipal Lomror with 16* in 8 balls, enable RCB to post a decent total of 170/6 in 20 overs.
