Matthew Hayden Endorses Rahul Tewatia as Mongoose Bat Successor for Gujarat Titans

In a recent event, Matthew Hayden, the batting coach of Gujarat Titans, endorsed Rahul Tewatia as the perfect successor for his iconic Mongoose bat. Highlighting Tewatia's power-hitting abilities, Hayden emphasized the importance of having such skills in T20 cricket. The Titans' head coach, Nehra, also reaffirmed the team's commitment to their competitive mindset as they prepare for IPL 2026. With Tewatia's impressive track record as a finisher, the Titans are gearing up for another exciting season. Discover more about the team's strategies and player insights in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 15:57 IST

Matthew Hayden's Praise for Rahul Tewatia

Matthew Hayden, the batting coach for Gujarat Titans, has expressed his confidence in Rahul Tewatia as the ideal candidate to inherit his famous Mongoose bat. This endorsement came during the Shubharambh 2026 event held in Ahmedabad, which brought together the entire team, franchise owners, partners, and fans. The Mongoose bat, known for its larger handle and shorter blade, enhances bat speed and shot power, making it particularly effective in T20 cricket. Hayden famously utilized this bat during the 2010 IPL, where he scored an impressive 93 runs off just 43 balls against the Delhi Daredevils, hitting seven sixes and nine fours.

"If I were to pass my Mongoose bat to anyone from GT, it would definitely be Rahul Tewatia. He possesses the power and excels with the long bat. In T20 cricket, the margins are often just five or ten runs, so having that kind of power at both the backend and frontend is crucial," Hayden remarked at the event.

Over the last four seasons, Tewatia has established himself as a vital finisher for the Gujarat Titans, amassing 591 runs in 43 innings with an average of 22.73 and a strike rate exceeding 150, primarily batting in the lower order. His highest score for the team is 43 not out.

New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips, known for his exceptional fielding skills, shared an interesting perspective on catching. "I find myself more anxious when an easy catch comes my way. I’m confident with the difficult ones, but the easy catches make me nervous," Phillips admitted.

Head coach Nehra discussed the upcoming season, emphasizing that the Titans will maintain their current playing style. He highlighted the importance of trusting players and their decision-making abilities, which strengthens their mindset. "There’s no need to rethink our approach this season. The players need to think and play; I’m just an observer," Nehra stated. He added, "From the very beginning, our goal has been clear: we are here to compete and win, not just to participate. While some might assume it takes time for a new team, that has never been our mindset."

Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026: 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), Ashok Sharma (Rs 90 lakh).