Tewatia thought Yuzvendra Chahal was joking when he told the all-rounder about his selection.
IPL find Rahul Tewatia earned his maiden call-up to the national side when BCCI announced Team India's T20I squad for the five-match series against England. The all-rounder, who is currently playing the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament, could not believe his ears when he heard the news.
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder grabbed eye-balls when he took his side over the line from near-impossible situations twice in the IPL 2020 season. Due to his exploits in the tournament conducted in the UAE, the national selectors have decided to give him an opportunity in the upcoming T20I series.
Tewatia himself wasn't aware of his selection until his Haryana teammate and Team India leggie Yuzvendra Chahal told him about it. The 27-year-old had no expectations about being picked up to play for India so early and thought Chahal was joking.
Rahul Tewatia told Indian Express, "When Yuzi bhai (Chahal) informed me, my first reaction was that he must be joking. I never thought I would get picked now. Mohit bhaiya (Sharma) also came to my room to inform me."
The Haryana all-rounder knew that he would one day get picked to play for the nation if he kept performing as his stateside already had three spinners who had donned the Indian colors - Amit Mishra, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Jayant Yadav.
"Life has always thrown challenges. Haryana has three spinners who have already played for India; Amit Mishra, Chahal, and Jayant Yadav. I always knew that if I get an opportunity, I must make it count. People had noticed me after the IPL. I thought if I continue to do well, I could get picked for the Indian team," Tewatia said.
He also expressed his desire to share a dressing room with the seniors in the Indian team and to watch their work ethics from close quarters.
"It will be great to share the dressing room with so many senior players and watch their work ethic from close quarters. I have heard that the experience of being with the Indian team is completely different. The team management and selectors have shown trust in me,” Tewatia concluded.
The five-match T20I series against England will begin on March 12 in Ahmedabad.