When youth ruled the field, it was experience that wrote the final chapter — Pravin Tambe's night of wonder turned heartbreak into history
Some nights in cricket feel like they're written by fate. At the Motera Stadium in 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders were already halfway home in the Indian Premier League. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa had stitched together a solid partnership, even defeat looked impossible. The Rajasthan Royals' bowlers toiled under the lights, chasing leather.
Chasing 171, KKR needed just 50 runs from 36 balls with all ten wickets untouched. The game seemed done and dusted. But then, from the quiet shadows, rose a 42-year-old magician. In a span of six breathtaking deliveries, Pravin Tambe flipped the script. Fairy tales don't just happen in books. Sometimes, they unfold on a cricket field.
The night began like a dream for Kolkata. Robin Uthappa, who had been in sublime form throughout the tournament, was at his fluent best. Gautam Gambhir, often burdened by pressure, found his rhythm too. Together, they kept Rajasthan's bowlers at bay. The ball sped across the lush outfield, boundaries came easily. Gambhir, who had been struggling with form, reached his half-century with a stroke of authority. Uthappa danced down the track to loft the ball elegantly. A partnership of 121 had silenced the Royals. From the outside, it looked like a comfortable cruise.
For the first half of the innings, Rajasthan had no answers. Karun Nair and Ajinkya Rahane earlier stitched crucial runs, helping RR post a fighting total of 170. Still, with the pitch offering little movement, their bowlers struggled. Rajat Bhatia's medium pace was punished. Spin or seam, it didn't seem to matter. Kolkata needed just 50 runs from six overs with all wickets intact. A straightforward finish, everyone thought.
It needed one moment. Shane Watson provided it. Coming in with fire, Watson removed Gambhir. Then, Andre Russell sent up the order for some muscle, which fell cheaply, too. Before anyone could process the chaos, Watson struck three wickets in a blink again. Suddenly, Kolkata had lost their footing. The scorecard, once steady and proud, now shivered with uncertainty. This was not just a collapse, it was a historic collapse, the likes of which had never been seen before in T20 cricket.
Just when the dust was settling, Pravin Tambe spun his web. First ball: Manish Pandey gone, deceived. Second ball: Yusuf Pathan trapped, stunned by the dip. Third ball: Ryan Ten Doeschate cleaned up; no clue whatsoever: a magical hat-trick — three balls, three wickets. The 42-year-old was dancing on the turf, and so were his teammates. Tambe's wristy wizardry had turned the night around. His performance was not just a hat-trick, it was a game-changer. KKR's collapse was the worst for the first six wickets in T20 history.
Shakib Al Hasan tried to salvage the mess. Using clever angles and some smart hits, he kept the hope alive. Tim Southee changed his bowling angles to pin KKR down further. But the asking rate kept climbing faster than the runs could come. Surya Kumar Yadav and Shakib swung their bats bravely. A few boundaries came, and a few free hits, too. But the damage had already been done.
Watson returned for the final over, clever and calm. He tied the batters in knots, sealing the deal for Rajasthan Royals. Kolkata had gone from 121 for no loss to 160 for six. Six wickets for just two runs — a collapse that defied belief. What seemed like an easy chase turned into heartbreak. It was Rajasthan's fourth win in five matches, a significant boost to their campaign. For KKR, it was another painful lesson in how quickly T20 matches can change, a lesson they would need to remember in their upcoming matches.
