Matthew Hayden Gifts Mongoose Bat to Rahul Tewatia Ahead of IPL 2026

In a significant gesture, Matthew Hayden, the batting coach of Gujarat Titans, has decided to pass his iconic Mongoose bat to power-hitter Rahul Tewatia. This announcement was made during the Shubharambh 2026 event in Ahmedabad, where Hayden praised Tewatia's abilities as a finisher in T20 cricket. Tewatia has shown impressive performance over four seasons, and Hayden's endorsement highlights his potential. Additionally, Glenn Phillips shared his thoughts on catching challenges, emphasizing the pressure of easy catches. The Gujarat Titans' squad for IPL 2026 features a mix of talented players, setting the stage for an exciting season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 11:43 IST

Hayden's Gesture for Tewatia

Matthew Hayden, the batting coach for Gujarat Titans (GT), has decided to pass on his renowned Mongoose bat to Rahul Tewatia, recognizing his talent as a powerful hitter. This announcement was made during the Shubharambh 2026 event in Ahmedabad, which celebrated the entire team, franchise owners, partners, and fans on Monday. Hayden is famous for using the Mongoose bat, characterized by its longer handle and shorter blade, which enhances bat speed and shot power. The bat's thick edges and extended sweet spot make it particularly effective for T20 cricket. Notably, Hayden once scored 93 runs off just 43 balls against Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) in the 2010 season, hitting nine fours and seven sixes.

Hayden Praises Tewatia's Skills

During the event, Hayden expressed, "If I were to give my Mongoose bat to anyone from GT, it would be Rahul Tewatia. He possesses incredible power and excels with the long bat. In T20 cricket, the margins are often just five or ten runs, so having that power at both the backend and frontend is crucial. You will achieve great things, mate."

Tewatia's Performance Overview

In his four seasons with GT, Tewatia has primarily played as a finisher, accumulating 591 runs in 43 innings. His batting average stands at 22.73, with an impressive strike rate exceeding 150, and his highest score is an unbeaten 43.

Glenn Phillips on Catching Challenges

Glenn Phillips, the talented New Zealand cricketer known for his remarkable catching skills, shared his thoughts on the matter. He stated, "I find myself more concerned when an easy catch comes my way. I am confident in my ability to take difficult catches, but the easy ones make me anxious."

Gujarat Titans Squad for IPL 2026

The complete roster for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 includes: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Anuj Rawat, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Kumar Kushagra, Manav Suthar, Arshad Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Luke Wood (Rs 75 lakh), Prithvi Raj Yarra (Rs 30 lakh), Tom Banton (Rs 2 crore), Jason Holder (Rs 7 crore), and Ashok Sharma (Rs 90 lakh).