Amidst all that is happening around Steve Smith and ball tampering, Rajasthan Royals has acted quickly in making Ajinkya Rahane the captain for IPL 2018 following the sacking of Smith. Smith was party to the ball tampering during the 3rd Day of the 3rd Test against South Africa, where cameras spotted Cameron Bancroft using sand dust paper to rough up one side of the ball to allow it to reverse swing. Smith and Bancroft admitted to their guilt during the press conference and it was understood that Bancroft was following Smith’s orders and that the top management was hand in glove with the incident.
ALSO READ: IPL 2018: Should Steve Smith, David Warner Be Allowed To Lead RR, SRH?
Earlier, Cricket Australia had asked Smith to step down as captain following the incident and made Tim Paine the stand-in captain. Australia has already lost the Test, but the ball-tampering episode is not going to douse anytime soon. ICC and Cricket Australia have launched a probe as this is not the first time Australia has cheated under Smith. A sprinkling of ex-players has said that ball-tampering is rife at all levels of the game and that nobody can plead ignorance.
So keeping all these developments in mind, Rajasthan Royals did not want to get into any controversy before the tournament starts. Hence, it is a judicious decision to sack Smith and name Ajinkya the captain.
Here is how Twittersphere reacted on Rahane taking over.
A big thanks to #RajasthanRoyals for giving priority to game and fair play over an individual and removing #SteveSmith from captaincy of @rajasthanroyals . Congrats #AjinkyaRahane aka JINX on becoming captain of RR. #PhirHallaBol
— Siddharth Bagaria (@imsidbagaria) March 26, 2018
Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy record:
In Twenty20 cricket:
Played – 4
Won – 1
Lost – 3 (Incl 1 IPL game)In List A cricket:
Played – 4
Won – 3
Lost – 1#IPL2018 #RajasthanRoyals— MS Dhoni #Dhoni (@imDhoni7_fc) March 26, 2018
#Australia at fare play award >>>>>
– 0.000000000000001 #SteveSmith #Australiancricket @ABdeVilliers17 @stevesmith49 @PontingFdn #BallTempering #balltamperingbancroft #balltampering #Ball #AjinkyaRahane #MondayMotivaton #ChipkoMovement @ICC @BCCI pic.twitter.com/i4l15xzI3I
— Shivam Dixit (@shivamdixit_17) March 26, 2018
#Australia at fare play award >
– 0.0000000000001… Still lost the match . ha ha #SteveSmith #Australiancricket @ABdeVilliers17 @stevesmith49 @PontingFdn #BallTempering #balltamperingbancroft #balltampering #Ball #AjinkyaRahane #MondayMotivaton #ChipkoMovement @ICC @BCCI pic.twitter.com/rT2q5a1Ju1
— Shivam Dixit (@shivamdixit_17) March 26, 2018
Rajasthan Royals appoint ajinkya rahane as the captain for IPL2018
“The game is bigger than any individual and we hold this thought close to our heart.”- Manoj Badale , the co-owner of Rajasthan Royals pic.twitter.com/7mcav75lgp
— ICC __ (@CricketerICC) March 26, 2018
Tons of congratulations to you @ajinkyarahane88 on leading @rajasthanroyals. We wish you to ride the crest of a wave and all the best for the future. Way to go, brother!#Urbane #AjinkyaRahane #RajasthanRoyals
— Urbane Magazine (@JustUrbane) March 26, 2018
Happy with this decision as a fan of cricket. Dear #AjinkyaRahane , just make sure he stays away from the ‘leadership group’. You have respect in India and just don’t let it go like that #idiot did. Please._
— ______ JaiHind__ JaiHindu_ #PakistanMurdabad (@AbhishekOpines) March 26, 2018
With Rahane as captain, only time will tell how beneficial he is to the Rajasthan Royals scheme of things.
