Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 edition will mark the comeback of another team, Rajasthan Royals (RR). The franchise which has not been talked about much in comparison to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The ‘darkhorse’ of IPL, the team who did not even have funds to get their own cheerleaders in the initial matches. While other teams focused on big names in the player auctions, RR focused on rising talents and managed to make a team which stunned everyone in the first season.
I am a big fan of Mumbai Indians (MI) who have heavily dominated IPL barring the first two editions. But, a part of me still supports RR and is excited to know the approach of the ‘underdogs’ of the league who stunned and at the same time inspired everyone with their spirited performance and success story.
RR are currently owned by Manoj Badale who was ecstatic on the franchise’s return to the fold in this season. The Rajasthan team have had legends like Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, Graeme Smith and others. Before we reveal the predicted squad of RR, let’s take a look at the team’s rich history.
2008: None expected them to make a mark in the first season. They were even made fun of for not bidding for big players and eyeing old players in the auction. Little did they know that at the end of the season, they will turn out to be the winners. Australia’s legendary spinner led the team to the first title in the inaugural season of IPL.
2009: Entering the tournament as one of the favourites, RR faced a major setback in the next season which was hosted in South Africa. They finished with on the 6th position with 6 wins from 14 games.
2010: Another disappointing season for RR despite playing in the conditions they were comfortable in. RR once again finished with 6 wins from 14 games but were at 7th position on the standings. The only positive in the season was Yusuf Pathan’s whirlwind maiden T20 century.
2011: Inconsistency and RR went hand in hand in this season as well. All they could manage was 6 wins from 14 games and finished at the 6th position on the table once again. Though Warne’s farewell match went well as RR were able to beat MI.
2012: Another disappointing season for RR. 7 wins from 16 matches and finished at the seventh place. It was the fourth season in a row that RR were not able to qualify for the playoffs.
2013: Under Shane Watson’s captaincy, RR finally managed to break the jinx. They finished at third position in the standings table. They were able to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eliminator but could not get through MI in the qualifiers and hence got knocked out of the tournament. Despite not reaching the final, RR managed to make an impact in the league. This year also marked the retirement of ‘The Wall’ aka Rahul Dravid from IPL. Though it was followed by disappointing news with three players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila getting arrested under spot-fixing charges.
2014: It started as a promising season for RR with a few setbacks in the league stages. With Dravid as mentor of the team, there were a few exceptional performances from the team. It came down to the final league match with MI on which the team’s qualification depended. With 190 needed off 14.3 overs, RR were assured that they will make it. Thanks to Corey Anderson’s wonder innings, RR could not qualify and ended the season at the fifth position with 7 wins from 14 games, missing the playoffs by a narrow margin.
2015: RR had a decent season despite all the accusations on the team. They finished fourth in the standings with 7 wins from 14 games. However, they were knocked out in the eliminator with a humiliating loss by 71 runs from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
2016, 2017: RR and CSK were banned for 2 years from playing in the league. Year 2018 marks the comeback of the old warhorse of the league.
Here is the probable squad of RR:
Ajinkya Rahane (captain, IND)
Rahane has over 3,000 runs in IPL. He might not be one of the biggest striker of the ball but can hit boundaries with ease if he gets his eye in. His captaincy skills are most underrated. He impressed everyone with his captaincy in IPL 2017 for Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in absence of Steven Smith. He was associated with RR for long before the ban and knows the pitch conditions at the homeground. He is absolutely the first choice for the skipper of the team.
Shane Watson (overseas)
The former RR captain has retired from international cricket but is still doing well in the T20 leagues. His experience can do wonders for the team in this season. Also, he has over 2,500 runs in IPL.
Steven Smith (overseas)
The second choice for the captain is none other than the Australian skipper. Although it was MS Dhoni who did most of the captaincy for RPS in the previous year, Smith is a valuable addition to any team in the top order. He can anchor the innings or go allout against the bowling attack. His half-century in the IPL 2017 final almost won the maiden title for RPS.
Shakib Al Hasan (overseas)
Bangladesh’s T20 skipper is a T20 specialist. With a limit on number of players a franchise can retain, Hasan might get roped in by RR in the auction. He might be able to do the work Ravindra Jadeja did for the team in the previous editions.
Kevin Pietersen (overseas)
The player who invented the ‘switch hit’ is not one to ignore when it comes to the shortest version of the game. Pietersen opted out of IPL in the previous season. RR are known to target players whom others have not considered picking. He might be a good addition to RR’s squad given his T20 record.
Yusuf Pathan
The mighty Pathan could not perform the way he had in the previous seasons for KKR. His recent centuries in Ranji Trophy 2017-18 have featured a few big hits despite the four-day setup. He has over 2,900 runs in IPL and can rejoin his old franchise in 2018 if released from KKR.
Stuart Binny
People may troll him on Twitter but Binny is one of the promising all-rounders in India. Binny has done well for RR in the past. Coming back to his old team might work for him in the upcoming season. The all-rounder also performed well in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2017.
Henry Nicholls (overseas)
Nicholls might be one of the surprise entry in IPL but he might be worth bidding for. His cameos in the limited overs series against India might support his claim for a bid in the IPL 2018 player auction. The Kiwi left-handed batsman can be a valuable addition to RR’s middle order.
Pravin Tambe
Noone knew Tambe before he made his IPL debut for RR in 2013. The year 2014 was his best season where he picked up 15 wickets. He did not get many chances playing for SRH in the previous season. The 46-year-old is the second-oldest player to feature in IPL and has a hat-trick.
Kane Richardson (overseas)
The Australian seamer was not a part of the RCB side in 2016. Richardson has a better reputation in Big Bash League (BBL). He might boost the bowling department of the Rajasthan side.
James Faulkner (overseas)
Another Australian all-rounder who made his name in the IPL playing for RR. His change of pace has turned out to be lethal in death overs. He can be a good lower order batsman too.
Praveen Kumar
Praveen may have lost his pace but he has his swing intact. Praveen can create a few problems with swing in the powerplay overs and dart in a few yorkers in the death overs.
Sam Billings (overseas)
The young English opener is an agile fielder and an explosive top order batsman. We might see a fight between RR and DD in the auctions for the 26-year-old.
Karun Nair
The Karnataka batsman was out-of-form and under pressure in the previous season. Coming back to RR, Nair has a chance to play his natural game in the top order.
Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper)
The Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman is the fifth highest run-scorer in the T20Is. He impressed everyone with his hard-hitting skills. He can end RR’s search for a wicketkeeper and can be a regular in the side.
Dishant Yagnik (back-up wicketkeeper)
Yagnik was almost a regular wicketkeeper in the RR side in the initial tournaments. He knows the conditions well and can be added to the squad for a low price.
Deepak Hooda
Hooda is a known name in IPL. The batting all-rounder can do well in the middle order and provide with a few overs if a bowler goes through a rough patch.
Marcus Stoinis (overseas)
An Australian all-rounder on the rise. Stoinis too is a limited overs specialist and can provide balance to the side. He has been associated with Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the previous editions.
Dawid Malan (overseas)
Malan proved his berth when he was selected in the T20I squad in place of skipper Eoin Morgan. Malan did not disappoint as he scored 78 runs from 44 balls on his debut against South Africa and was given ‘Man of the match’. Enough introduction of the youngster?
Liam Plunkett (overseas)
The 32-year-old English all-rounder has over 100 wickets in the T20 format. Another all-rounder who can replace Faulkner if he goes through bad form. He made his international return in the previous year and impressed straight away.
Barinder Sran
Sran is economical and can open the bowling. The left-arm seamer gives the side a chance to include another overseas player as he can bowl his quota of 4 overs without getting bashed for a series of boundaries.
Murali Vijay
Vijay was in his prime in the initial seasons of the league. Though he could not reciprocate his talents while playing for KXIP. Vijay can be the frontline batsman for RR.
Washington Sundar
Sundar impressed with his intention to pitch the ball up and look for wickets in the previous season for RPS. Sundar can be the back-up spinner in the team.
Shreyas Iyer
Iyer did not impress in his international debut but he has been impressing with his batting through years in IPL. He might go for big bucks in IPL 2017.
Aniket Choudhary
The left-arm seamer helped Indian batsmen prepare for Mitchell Starc earlier this year. Need I say more?
Jayant Yadav
Another addition to the spinners-brigade. Yadav is a bowling all-rounder and can create a few problems on a spin-friendly track.
Sachin Baby
Baby can provide a few cameos and help his team dominate in the death overs. He did this well playing for RCB.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara was hopeful of getting selected in the previous IPL player auction. RR might get him for the base price. Who knows? RR might make a T20 batsman out of Pujara.
Ricky Ponting (coach-cum-mentor)
There have been reports that RR and DD are trying to get Ponting to coach the side. If RR are able to rope in Ponting, he might help them restore the glory of the franchise.
Shaun Tait (bowling coach)
Tait is one of the fastest bowlers the world has ever seen. Who knows? he might train an Indian bowler to bowl at lightening fast speeds.
I have had a soft corner for the Rajasthan team. The franchise has been my back-up team in case MI fail to make it to playoffs. I hope RR’s comeback season will be a memorable one.
