Rahul Tewatia had to request for a "pat on the back" in the IPL last year, but this season he fully earned it.
In a debriefing video of the 2019 season that has gone viral following his match-winning six-hitting spree on Sunday, Tewatia, who played for Delhi Capitals last year, can be seen walking up to head coach Ricky Ponting to remind the legendary Australian about his four catches in their victory over Mumbai Indians.
Tewatia stops Ponting in his stride after he concludes his post-match dressing room speech, patting the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Colin Ingram, Kagiso Rabada and Ishant Sharma for playing their part in the victory at the Wankhede stadium.
With leg-spinner Tewatia yearning for recognition for his four catches, Ponting obliges by telling the entire squad in the the dressing room, much to everyone's amusement, "Boys, Tewatia took four catches and wants a pat on the back," and walks away with a grin on his face.
Axar Patel and a few others chide Tewatia in a lighter vein for asking for recognition.
"Apne haq ke liye ladenge (I will fight for what I am owed)," Tewatia retorts.
That incident best sums up Tewatia's career, which found its moment under the spotlight on Sunday night.
The Haryana bowler was an IPL regular who could contribute in all departments, but never come up with that one career-defining performance.
After five seasons in the wilderness, the 27-year-old produced a sensational performance with the bat against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday, in Sharjah, that ensured he won't have to ask for recognition anymore.
Traded back to Rajasthan Royals this season, Tewatia, after the "worst 20 balls" he ever played, pulled the rabbit out of the hat by smashing West Indian speedster Shedon Cottrell for five sixes in an over that effectively won the game for his team.
The six sixes out of the seven he hit came off his last eight balls, handing Royals an improbable victory.
This was after Sanju Samson refused to take a single as Tewatia struggled at the other end, struggling to put bat on ball early on in his innings.
With that 30-run over, Tewatia changed the course of the game and potentially his career.
