The Royals Are Back To Conquer

From the iSport IPL Paddock, iSporter Akshay Iyer introduces his favourite IPL team, Rajasthan Royals. Take a look at what he has to say on the IPL seasons that have gone by and the much awaited season III. All RR fans join Akshay as he sings 'Halla Bol'!

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Rajasthan has always been a land of splendour and valour. Rajasthan Royals – the state’s representative in the Indian Premier League also has the same qualities and has displayed a lot of courage coupled with a never-say-die attitude over the first two seasons of the IPL.

The Royals are the least expensive of the eight franchises in the IPL, and when the team management adopted a safe approach at the first IPL auction and only had former Australian leg-spinning wizard Shane Warne and South Africa captain Graeme Smith as the star players in the squad. Mohammad Kaif, the former India middle-order batsman, with a price tag of $675,000 was the most expensive purchase for the Royals in the first IPL auction! Going into the tournament, the Royals were only expected to make up the numbers and not many gave the team any chance of making an impression. The skeptics seemed to have been spot-on when Delhi Daredevils thrashed the Royals by nine wickets in the Rajasthan’s team first match of the tournament.

However, the Royals turned things around thanks mainly to the inspirational captaincy of Warne, who is touted to be the best skipper Australia never had! Warne has always been an excellent student of the game, and when he did get the chance to lead a team in front of a worldwide audience, the genius seemed to be in his elements. He encouraged his team and always had words of support for the younger players as well as the more experienced ones. Each cricketer in the Royals squad had a clear role, and this clarity led to an amazing turnaround, as the team became the first to qualify for the semi-finals. The loss against the Daredevils was only one of the three losses suffered by the Royals in the first season of the IPL.

The Royals thrashed the Daredevils by 105 runs in the first semi-finals before edging out Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in a humdinger of a final to be crowned champions of the first season of the IPL! Ravindra Jadeja, who was part of India’s under-19 World Cup winning side in 2008, and Baroda's all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, Goa's batsman Swapnil Asnodkar and Gujarat's pacer Siddharth Trivedi shot into the limelight thanks to their stupendous performances for the Royals in IPL-1. Munaf Patel was another player who reminded Indian selectors of his capabilities with his bowling performances for the Royals.

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While Smith and Warne played their part to perfection, the standout international performers for the Royals in IPL-1 were Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and Pakistani pace bowler Sohail Tanvir. Watson, coming off one of his injury lay-offs, walked away with the Man of the Series award as he scored 472 runs and took 17 wickets in the Royals’ victorious campaign. Since then, Watson has been a regular member of the Australian XI in all forms of cricket. Tanvir was given the Purple Cap for being the highest wicket-taker in the first season of the IPL.

The Royals, however, were burdened with the loss of Watson, Tanvir, Kamran Akmal and Shaun Tait before the start of IPL-2. While Watson couldn’t take part in the tournament because of his international commitment; Tanvir and Akmal were unable to take part in IPL-2 as a result of the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. The Royals had bought Tait in the second IPL players’ auction, but he withdrew from the tournament because of an injury.

The start to their defence itself was disastrous for the Royals as they were thrashed by 75 runs in their opening match by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Chasing a paltry target of 134, the Royals were bundled out for 58 in this match. Their second match of IPL-2 against Mumbai Indians was rained out, but the Royals got their campaign back on track in the next match against Kolkata Knight Riders, which they won in the Super Over. However, inconsistent performances in the remaining matches saw the Royals bow out of contention for a semi-finals berth. Of their last 11 matches, the Royals won five and lost six games.

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While the absence of Watson and Tanvir was a crippling blow, the Royals’ cause wasn’t helped by the fact that their batting stars of IPL-1 like Smith, Asnodkar and Pathan were mainly off-colour. Australian batting imports Lee Carlesdine and Rob Quiney, came in with big reputations thanks to their performances for their respective state sides in the KFC T20 Big Bash, but they were found wanting on the South African pitches in IPL-2. Indian domestic pace bowlers Kamran Khan and Amit Singh were both impressive before being reported for suspect actions. Kaif was axed by the Royals ahead of IPL-2 following his inconsistent performance in IPL-1, but this decision also led to the tail being exposed earlier than usual.

Middlesex all-rounder Tyron Henderson was bought by the Royals for $650,000 at the second IPL players’ auction. Henderson came into IPL-2 with a huge reputation, but failed to deliver the goods when he was part of the playing XI. The lack of a good opening partnership with both the bat and the ball were also factors that saw the Royals finish sixth on the points table in IPL-2.

It wasn’t a disappointing story all around though, as Jadeja enhanced his reputation as one of India’s best young players; while Naman Ojha grabbed the chances that came his way to shine with the bat and the wicket-keeping gloves. Munaf finished as the highest wicket-taker for the Royals in IPL-2, while Warne himself continued to impress both as leader and star leg-spinner.

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Looking ahead to Season 3, the Royals appear to have a balanced squad. However, the team management’s decision not to renew Jadeja’s contract has left a bit of a hole not only in the batting and bowling departments, but also on the field. Jadeja’s absence though can easily be filled by former Indian Cricket League player Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, who is not only a terrific batsman but also an outstanding fielder! The inclusion of former Australian and ICL player Damien Martyn also adds class and solidity to the Royals’ batting line-up.

Asnodkar and Smith would be hoping to reproduce their opening partnerships in IPL-1, while Pathan will look to continue his good form with the bat in recent months and pummel the opposition bowlers into submission. Hampshire’s Michael Lumb is an aggressive batsman and is expected to be one of the key performers for the Royals in IPL-3. Ojha also would look to continue from where he left off in IPL-2.

The bowling attack looks good with the pace of Munaf, Tait and Morne Morkel looking good to trouble any batting line-up in the tournament. Morkel has been in tremendous bowling form for South Africa in recent months, and the Royals would be hoping he can replicate the same for them in IPL-3. Tait has had his share of injury problems, but still has the raw pace and hostility to trouble any batsman in Twenty20 cricket. Kamran Khan and Amit Singh will also add strength to the Royals’ pace battery.

South African off-spinner Johan Botha and skipper Warne will take care of the spin bowling department for the Royals, with Pathan chipping in as and when required.
Things are definitely looking good for the Royals in the run-up to IPL-3. I am getting ready to cheer the Royals on with the team anthem Halla Bol! Are you?