Rajasthan Royals chased down a thrilling record-breaking target in IPL history. Rahul Tewatia went from villain to a hero during the chase. He made a painful start, scoring just 8 of his first 19 balls, before exploding in the death overs, to score 45 off the next 12 balls, including 7 sixes, to steer the team to a memorable win. Here are a few life lessons from Tewatia’s knock.
Never give up
When Tewatia was struggling to put bat to ball and was missing more than connecting in his first 19 balls, commentators were discussing of a possible rule where players can retire themselves or get themselves out so that a better inform batsman can come to the crease and fight the battle in the middle.
Tewatia could not have been faulted if he had thrown his wicket away then as he was clearly struggling. But he never gave up, he kept trying, waiting for his time when he will get his preferred bowling and hit the ball out of the park.
And Tewati made merry when Sheldon Cottrell, who bowls left-arm into the left-handed batsman, came onto bowl and cracked 5 sixes in an over off the West Indian.
Have self-belief
When captain Steve Smith sends out the message to Tewatia in the middle, Tewatia replied stated he will make up for it by hitting 3 sixes each of Mohammed Shami and Cottrell – two of the best pace bowlers in the world. And that speaks volumes of self-belief Tewatia has had in his game. And it was not just talking. He walked the talk in the end.
It’s not how you start, but how you finish
Most people, be it in any career, start on the top gear straight away but loses motivation and momentum in the end, and give up. But it is not how you start, but how you finish, and that is applicable in real life as well. And Tewatia proved that, by exploding in the end and taking the team to victory. And despite his painful start, he is winning accolades now for the way he finished off the game.
Wait for your chances
Tewatia was struggling against spin, especially the ball moving away from him, and his wild swing was missing to connect the balls almost every time, piling pressure on him, and frustrating his partner Sanju Samson, who even refused a single against Glenn Maxwell’s spin bowling to make the most of the over.
But Tewatia waited for his chance and exploded against Cottrell whose bowling suited him. Hence, in life too, playing the waiting game for the conditions to be favorable can pay rich dividends.
Photo courtesy: RR's Facebook page
