Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan were in fantastic form for Gujarat Titans (GT) as they defeated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by five wickets in match 40 of the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, on Wednesday. The all-rounders went undefeated as GT reached 199 for five in 20 overs, breaking the goal of 196 runs. Tewatia registered 40 runs from 21 balls (four fours and two sixes) and Rashid hammered 31 runs from 11 deliveries, including four maximums.
The game turned tense as Gujarat stood at 140 for five in 16 overs before Tewatia and Rashid made a thrilling comeback with the Afghan sending Marco Jansen for three huge sixes in the last over to lead his side to victory. The emotions in the final were so high that GT skipper Hardik Pandya began preparing for a Super Over, but was calmed down by head coach Ashish Nehra.
Speaking to Rashid and Tewatia on IPL’s official website, Pandya said: “I have started watching the matches neutrally these days. I am neither too happy nor too sad as my behavior will also have an effect on the dugout But in all the games, me and Ashu pa (Ashish Nehra) feel like ‘this game is getting tighter’.”
Pandya also revealed that when Tewatia sent his thigh back, it further made Hardik think that the batters are going for a Super Over.
He stated, “I was getting ready for Super Over, but Ashu Bhai said, ‘Hey, hold on! We’re just finishing this here’. You (to Tewatia) sent the femur back and I thought, these guys are going for Super Over !”
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Explaining why he sent his femur back, Tewatia revealed: “I thought if the bowler bowls a Yorker, Rashid Bhai will play the shot he usually plays through the middle of his legs to the square border. I thought if it wasn’t a six I have to run anyway. But Rashid Bhai did.”
After the win, Gujarat topped the IPL 2022 points table with 14 points from eight matches (seven wins and one defeat). In their upcoming match, Gujarat will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
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