Rahul Tewatia Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Haryana all-rounder Rahul Tewatia is unlikely feature in the forthcoming five-match T20I series against England. Tewatia failed to clear a mandatory fitness Test. The 27-year-old had received his maiden India call-up following an impressive performance in IPL 2020 and the Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Reports claim that Tewatia along with Varun Chakravarthy, scored well below the fitness benchmark expected from national team players.
Notably, a national team player is expected to score 17:1 in the Yo-Yo Test or cover a distance of 2 km within 8.3 minutes. Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) had made this criteria mandatory for players' eligibility to play for the national team. However, there is still some hope for the duo of Tewatia and Chakravarthy. Both will receive another opportunity to clear the Test. Although it would be a difficult task to improve their scores in a short span of time.
Tewatia's dream run in IPL 2020
Tewatia was not a popular name even in the Indian domestic cricket circuit until a few months ago. However, he turned his fortunes with a splendid show in IPL 2020. Not only did he pick wickets with the ball but even delivered with the bat for Rajasthan Royals. This eventually paved way for him to earn his maiden India call-up for the series against England.
Overall, Rahul scored 255 runs at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of over 140. With the ball too, he scalped 10 wickets with his leg-spinners at an economy of 7.08. With the T20I series set to start on March 12, it remains to be seen if he could clear the mandated requirements and don Team India jersey.