IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar hails ‘ice-man’ Rahul Tewatia for showing no signs of nervousness in tense moments

Nicknaming
the
28-year-old
Haryana
cricketer
as
‘ice-man’,
the
legendary
opener
praised
Tewatia
for
his
ability
to
stay
calm
during
tricky
run
chases.

“Reason
why
call
him
the
ice-man
is
because
he
just
stands
there
(at
the
crease)
and
shows
no
signs
of
shrugs
or
whatever.
He’s
composed,
he’s
anticipating
the
deliveries
and
knows
which
shots
to
play.
In
his
mind,
he’s
ready
that
if
the
ball
is
(landing)
there,
he’s
going
to
play
his
favourite
shot.
And
when
he
middles
(the
ball),
it’s
always
a
six.
That’s
what
makes
him
the
ice-man
because
he’s
not
ruffled
at
all
(with
the
situation),”
Gavaskar
said
on
Star
Sports.

Gavaskar
also
claimed
that
Tewatia’s
whirlwind
knock
for
his
previous
franchise
Rajasthan
Royals
in
Sharjah
during
IPL
2020
gave
him
the
confidence
that
he
belongs
to
the
big
stage.
Tewatia
–
who
made
full
use
of
the
small
dimensions
of
the
stadium
–
smashed
West
Indies
pacer
Sheldon
Cottrell
for
five
sixes
in
an
over
and
changed
the
complexion
of
the
game.
The
southpaw
hasn’t
looked
back
ever
since
and
went
from
strength
to
strength
to
establish
himself
as
a
finisher.

Speaking
on
Star
Sports,
Gavaskar
said,
“That
assault
on
Sheldon
Cottrell
in
Sharjah
gave
him
the
belief
to
do
the
impossible
and
the
confidence
that
he
belongs
here.
We
saw
the
impossible
(he
did
with
the
bat)
the
other
day
as
well.
There’s
no
twitching
or
touching
the
pads
(which
shows
a
batter’s
nervousness)
when
he
bats
in
the
death
overs.
He
just
waits
for
the
ball
to
be
delivered
and
plays
his
shots.
He’s
got
all
the
shots
in
the
book,
but
most
importantly
his
temperament
to
stay
cool
in
a
crisis
is
brilliant.”

Former
Indian
cricketer
Mohammed
Kaif
is
also
impressed
with
Tewatia’s
resurgence
with
the
bat.
Kaif
–
who
was
part
of
the
Delhi
Capitals
coaching
staff
when
Tewatia
was
playing
for
the
franchise
–
claimed
from
being
a
boundary-hitter,
that
the
left-handed
batter
has
transformed
into
a
six-hitter.

Speaking
on
Star
Sports,
Kaif
said,
“Rahul
Tewatia
used
to
play
as
an
all-rounder
for
Delhi
Capitals
and
back
then
he
provided
a
spin-bowling
option
along
with
Amit
Mishra.
He
was
a
boundary
hitter
during
his
stint
for
Delhi
but
now
he
has
transformed
into
a
six-hitter.
He
has
surprised
us
all
for
he
has
become
‘Tewatia
the
finisher’.
There
has
been
a
massive
improvement
in
this
player
and
he
has
achieved
it
with
hard
work
and
dedication.”