Rahul Tewatia has affected one of the greatest comeback stories that you’ll ever see during a live sporting event. The southpaw was in the midst of what he himself admitted in the post-match presentation, the worst 20 balls he has ever faced in his career thus far before he turned it on in stunning fashion to not only stage redemption but also shut down his detractors on social media.
Chasing 224 to win, Rajasthan Royals were going along well when Steven Smith and Sanju Samson were smoking to all corners of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The seminal moment of the game came in the 10th over when the Royals thinktank decided to promote Rahul Tewatia up the order. The move was looking like an absolute disaster during the first 19 balls of Rahul Tewatia”s innings as he just couldn’t get any timing to strokes, hobbling his way to 8.
With the run-rate soaring past 16, matters came to a head when Sanju Samson even denied to take singles in the 16th over as he smoked Maxwell for three consecutive sixes. Samson was eventually dismissed in the next over and with Tewatai struggling with his timing, it looked like the Royals would need Robin Uthappa to play out of skins to win them the game.
By now, #Tewatia had already started to trend on Twitter with both fans and former cricketers lambasting the Royals management for the decision to promote the southpaw.
It all changed within the next 6 balls as Rahul Tewatia in what was a redemption for ages, smashed Sheldon Cottrell for four consecutive sixes, and five overall to bring the equation down to 21 off 12 balls.
6666.6W6616 ?
It rained sixes at Sharjah as Rahul Tewatia and Jofra Archer pulled off an unbelievable heist in the #IPL2020
Prior to that onslaught, Rajasthan Royals required 51 off 18 deliveries – they've won with three balls to spare ? pic.twitter.com/nglADX3PJn
— ICC (@ICC) September 27, 2020
Tewatia scored his last 45 runs in just nine balls and brought up his half-century with another disdainful six in the very next over. He was eventually dismissed by Shami but not before he had set the Royals on their way to the highest run-chase in IPL history.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Rahul Tewatia’s stunning redemption-
You either die a villain or live long enough to be a hero. #Tewatia
— CS Amudhan (@csamudhan) September 27, 2020
Life lesson….
Dont judge anyone too soon…#Tewatia— VISHNU VISHAL – stay home stay safe (@TheVishnuVishal) September 27, 2020
Have never seen anything like this. Never #Tewatia #KXIPvsRR
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 27, 2020
Such is life!! It turns in a span of 2 minutes. #Tewatia
— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) September 27, 2020
Tewatia replying to non deleted tweets done until 16th over …… pic.twitter.com/quBGZIe8zb
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) September 27, 2020
What a roller coaster of a game. Congrats @rajasthanroyals for such an incredible chase. U guys were magicians tonight. Hard luck @lionsdenkxip Time to look forward & be positive.Many more games to go. Great lesson on Never writing any one off?#Mayank #Tewatia #Pooran #RRvKXIP
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) September 27, 2020
He's up and running…. https://t.co/tG3ZUfuOZo
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 27, 2020
Rahul #Tewatia has brought Hope for Every 'Rahul' that things might turn around. ?#ApnaTimeAyega
— Sushant Sinha (@SushantBSinha) September 27, 2020
Rahul Tewatia after hitting 5 sixes outta nowhere #RRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/4M5nwRdGAG
— OMKAR (@iamomkark) September 27, 2020
GREATEST T20 MATCH EVER, PERIOD ! And Tewatia you have taught us a lesson of our lifetime.. I bow down to you man.. HISTORIC WIN BY RR. #RRvsKXIP
— Sumit Kadel (@SumitkadeI) September 27, 2020
Highest run chase in IPL history.
Tewatia taught us a few lessons today. That's how it happened.#RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/PSpBHvbpSx
— Kartik Dayanand (@KartikDayanand) September 27, 2020
Tewatia inning Summarized#RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/1Ie9BUzPJJ
— Amit Kumar (@AMIT_GUJJU) September 27, 2020
What an incredible game of cricket…..Rahul Tewatia, you’ve shown all of us that miracles do happen. Five sixes in an over against an International fast-bowler. Especially after the struggle. A Fairy tale. #RRvKXIP
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 27, 2020
Tewatia morphed into MSD ????
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) September 27, 2020
Rahul Tewatia: remember the name!? they also serve those who stand and wait.. ?? #RRvsKXIP
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 27, 2020
That was an unbelievable finish! One thing this game taught me was that we can never give up however bad the situation is in life! Tewatia started like a no 11 batsman but ended like a no.1 champ, unbelievable batting by @IamSanjuSamson and Tewatia! #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) September 27, 2020
17(23) ⏩ 53(31)
What a way to turn things around!
Take a bow Rahul Tewatia ?https://t.co/2ufqwfrsUg | #RRvKXIP | #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/alDxnDB4k6
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 27, 2020
Rahul Tewatia played dots initially to make you his hater and then ended you, me and everyone with five sixes. That's what kings do, they trap you! ???
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 27, 2020
Pic 1. Tewatia in his starting 23 balls
Pic 2. Tewatia in his last 8 balls #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/Eu2z1VAS0x
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) September 27, 2020
The Tewatia story will stay forever. What an insane turn around. I love human triumph. Sport is such a great teacher, we can write someone off but we can’t erase them! Wow. So happy with what we got to see. Incredible lesson for life.
— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) September 27, 2020
Tewatia to whole cricket world: pic.twitter.com/c9wpoJWPIx
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 27, 2020
What an amazing game of cricket. So many things to talk about. Firstly – what courage and heart shown from Tewatia, especially after his poor start with the bat, well done young man-awesome ! My man @IamSanjuSamson once again-pure class ! Great win @rajasthanroyals wow wow wow !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 27, 2020
Terrific batting by @rajasthanroyals’ batsmen Smith, Sanju & Tewatia to chase this mega total.
They kept their cool and accelerated beautifully.
Surprised how the @lionsdenkxip fast bowlers didn’t bowl many yorkers and also failed to use M Ashwin enough. #RRvKXIP #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/f52wF11uig
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 27, 2020