Kamal Ghorui
Gujarat Titans (GT) batting coach Matthew Hayden has made a striking statement ahead of IPL 2026, revealing that he would pass on his iconic Mongoose bat to GT’s finisher, praising the all-rounder’s power-hitting ability. Hayden made the remark during Shubharambh 2026, a grand event in Ahmedabad that brought together the entire Gujarat Titans squad, franchise owners, partners, and fans. The former Australian opener’s endorsement of Tewatia stood out as one of the highlights of the evening, underlining the team’s faith in their finisher.
The Legacy of the Mongoose Bat
Hayden is famously associated with the Mongoose bat, a unique design that features: longer handle, shorter blade and a thicker extended sweet spot. This combination allows for greater bat speed and explosive power, making it particularly effective in T20 cricket. The bat became iconic during the IPL 2010 season when Hayden smashed a memorable 93 off 43 balls against Delhi (then Delhi Daredevils), showcasing its destructive potential.Matthew Hayden backed Rahul Tewatia to carry forward that legacy, he said: “If I had to hand my Mongoose bat to someone from GT, it’d have to be Rahul Tewatia. He has the power. He does a very good job with the long bat. The margins in T20 cricket is five runs, 10 runs and to have that power at the backend and frontend is good. You will get it, mate.”
Tewatia: GT’s Reliable Finisher
Over the past four seasons with Gujarat Titans, Tewatia has carved out a reputation as a dependable finisher. Tewatia has batted mostly down the order, scoring 591 runs in 43 innings at an average of 22.73, with strike rate of over 150 and best score of 43*.Rahul Tewatia is an established IPL all-rounder (since 2014) known as a “finisher” and “The Iceman” for his ability to win high-pressure games, notably with Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. Across 108 matches, he has scored 1,112 runs (strike rate 137.11) and taken 32 wickets. His career highlights include hitting 5 sixes in an over to win a match in 2020 against Punjab Kings and multiple last-ball wins for GT including last 2 ball sixes against Punjab in 2022. He also played a major role in Gujarat Titans’ title winning campaign in 2022.
