Let’s start with the minor details.
It was the highest ever run-chase in the 13-season history of the IPL.
Mayank Agarwal scored a 45-ball century, to emboss his growing reputation.
Sanju Samson, the prince of batting from Kerala, hit 85 from 42 balls, and took his tally of sixes in Sharjah to 16 from two matches.
Nicholas Pooran did the most sublime piece of fielding in the history of the universe. So good that his fielding coach, the all-time great fieldsman Jonty Rhodes, bowed down to him in Wayne’s World, “we’re not worthy” style.
Jofra Archer hit the first two balls he faced for six, during a run of seven sixes in nine balls in the frantic finale.
Rajasthan Royals chased 84 in the last five overs of the match – and still had three balls left over at the end.
All of which are mere sidebar stories to Rahul Tewatia. A jobbing, 27-year-old spin bowler who played one of the most extraordinary innings the world has ever seen.
At first, it was woeful. Properly wincing-in-your-seat, hope-it-ends-soon-for-the-good-of-everybody woeful.
He could not lay a bat on the ball. When he did, it would skew off an edge, and dribble away in some unintended direction.
On commentary Rohan Gavaskar put forward the idea about using a tactical retirement. And he meant it.
There seemed plenty of merit in that idea. Put him out of his misery, and we can all stop cringing.
That would have deprived us the most incredible turnaround, though. From “the worst 20 balls I have ever played” to the most memorable ending of his career.
Sheldon Cottrell, the Jamaican who was Kings XI Punjab’s big signing at auction ahead of this season, lined up to bowl with the game all but in the bag for his side.
Timid Tewatia, a forlorn figure, just tried to hit and hope. He got lucky. The first ball went for six. Then the second. Then another, and another, and another.
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Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab player ratings
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KINGS XI PUNJAB RATINGS: KL Rahul – 8. Another score, regained the orange cap for the leading run-scorer … yet was still overshadowed by his opening partner. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Mayank Agarwal – 9.5. The star of the first game for Punjab, and even better this time. Reached his ton off 45 deliveries. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Glenn Maxwell – 7. Bumped up the order to try to maintain the impetus, and he hit two fours in doing so. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Nicholas Pooran – 8. Back at the ground where he dominated in the T10 League, he powered 25 in eight balls. And he came up with the most incredible bit of fielding you will see at the boundary rope. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Karun Nair – 5. Was not required with bat or ball. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Sarfaraz Khan (right) – 6. Again, he did not get a chance with the bat, but he did pocket the vital catch of Buttler. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Jimmy Neesham – 6. Escaped the damage of his senior seam-bowling colleagues, as he went for just the one six. Still yet to bat in the tournament. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Mohammad Shami – 5. Three wickets was a positive. But 53 runs conceded was, quite clearly, a negative. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Sheldon Cottrell – 3. It was all going so well when he sent back Buttler cheaply. The finish was a nightmare, though, as he ended with 57 from three overs. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Ravi Bishnoi – 7. Copped an earful from Maxwell for giving away an overthrow, only to come back and bowl a steady over straight after. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Murugan Ashwin – 5. His overs were kept back as the carnage was unfolding. Took a wicket in the last over, but could not stop the inevitable. Sportzpics for BCCI -
RAJASTHAN ROYALS RATINGS: Jos Buttler – 4. Huge anticipation about his first appearance after quarantine, but he was scruffy with the gloves, and came and went quickly with the bat. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Steve Smith – 7. His rapid half-century was just what his team needed at the time. His decision to send Tewatia up the order initially looked foolhardy. Then, genius. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Sanju Samson – 9.5. In a competition of unbelievable theatre, he is the best player to watch at present. His luck must be in, too - he even ran a three in Sharjah. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Rahul Tewatia – 8. One over for 19 on a horror night for the bowlers. His batting was a sorry sight to start with. And then … mind-blowing. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Robin Uthappa – 6. Questionably demoted below Tewatia in the order. When he was called on, he did what was required of him. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Jofra Archer – 7. No better than four out of 10 for his bowling. Ten out of 10 for his batting, though, as he made 13 not out from three balls. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Riyan Parag – 5. Had a long wait to get in, and then was bowled behind his legs by Ashwin with the game there for the taking. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Tom Curran (right) – 4. So brutal was it for the bowlers, there was even a moment he had to take cover, after a scary straight smite by Pooran. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Shreyas Gopal – 5. Four overs for 44. A wide. Three sixes conceded. Which was about par for the course, really. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Ankit Rajpoot – 6. His struggles bottomed out when he somehow sent down a wide and a no-ball in the same delivery. Went for a mere 39 in all, though. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Jaydev Unadkat – 5. The left-armer is one of many bowlers who will be itching to get away from Sharjah. He did not even get his full quota of overs. Sportzpics for BCCI
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Thirty off one over, and suddenly he had dragged his side back in it. He went, but Archer continued where he had left off, crunching deliveries into the empty stands.
Somehow, it was won.
“I think he was really brave,” Samson said of Tewatia, with whom he shared an odd 61-run alliance.
“He never gave up. He was so down, I could see that. But he never gave up, and he had the belief to come back and strike those 30 runs off an international player in this IPL.
“It was a great confidence booster, and I think in the coming tournament that will be really useful for us.”
Rajasthan’s brains trust were being pilloried for the decision for sending Tewatia up the order, but Samson pointed out he had made them proud – eventually.
“I think it was out team management, coach [Andrew McDonald] and [director of cricket] Zubin Bharucha,” Samson said of who took the call to promote Tewatia.
“We have been working really hard on Rahul Tewatia. He is a proper leg-spinner and the management saw the batting abilities he had in the practice matches we had, and the nets.
“The decision to send him up the order, I think it was a great move.
"It was a really brave move, and he made them all proud.”
