Former Indian captain and cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar is in awe of Rahul Tewatia's last over heroics that saw him hitting back-to-back sixes to hand Gujarat Titans a six-wicket victory against Punjab Kings on Friday (April 8).
The 72-year-old termed Tewatia 'iceman' for keeping his cool and hitting two consecutive sixes when Gujarat Titans needed 12 runs off last two balls.
"What is running through his veins? It's not blood. Ice! You (Matthew Hayden) are right, Ice. Rahul Tewatia should be nicknamed iceman," Gavaskar said in the post-match show on Star Sports.
Chasing 190 for a win, Shubman Gill (96 off 59) was out in the 19th over after hitting 11 fours and a six, followed by his captain Hardik Pandya (27) in the final over as the Titans needed 12 runs from the last two balls. Tewatia (13 not out off 3 balls), who has a reputation of hitting big sixes in crunch situations, sent the last two balls bowled by Odean Smith for maximums to hand the Titans their third win on the trot.
Gavaskar said only Tewatia could have rescued Hardik Pandya-led side from that situation.
"If there was anybody who was going to take Gujarat home, it was going to be Tewatia. It was in his arc. He likes to go outside the off stump and play that shot, we've seen him do that," the former India captain said.
Gavaskar also added that the PBKS bowling coaching (Damien Wright) has a role to play in guiding young players like Odean Smith on how to bowl in tough situations.
"Young Odean Smith was under too much pressure. It's his first IPL. This is where the bowling coach has a big role to play. The bowling coach's job is not just to correct the wrist position and get their arm right. The bowling coach is supposed to tell them. This is what you need to bowl in these situations.
"As a bowler, Odean Smith can get hammered but if the coach had said 'try and howl it here' the captain is also there but this is where the coaches earn their money. If anything, the bowling coach, has to stand up and take responsibility for what happened today," Gavaskar concluded.
The Punjab side made a brilliant comeback at the death and they were on the verge of a victory only to be denied by Tewatia in a dramatic fashion.
