Why you shouldn't write off Rajasthan Print E-mail
Category: Indian Premier League
Written by Luke Tagg   
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 20:41
I've seen plenty of positive tweets from Rajasthan Royals players over the last couple of weeks, as international players have gradually made their way to India, and I'm getting a good vibe about it all.

The Jaipur-based side were the underdogs in IPL1 yet pulled off a miracle by winning it. They were royally beaten into 6th place last year in South Africa, probably because the conditions were so foreign to the younger Indian players.

This year they once again start as underdogs, but closer examination of their squad reveals a potentially lethal line-up.

The Ringleader, of course, is Shane Warne - quite possibly the most valuable IPL player there is. Only Warnie could have taken a bunch of no-hopers in the inaugural season and turned them into a winning side - we can but wonder at how he might have fared as captain of Australia.

The IPL is back in India this year and that will give a lot of the youngsters more confidence, playing in front of home crowds. None of them performed particularly well in South Africa, but at home I imagine they'll raise their games - and hopefully bats. On a regular basis.

Before the first IPL I decided to follow the Rajasthan Royals for two reasons: Warnie and Graeme Smith. Both delighted in that first season and both are back this season, scheming up all sorts of unpleasantries.

At about 6pm this evening Biff tweeted the following:

Hi everyone really good day in mumbai!just met up with team great to catch up with warnie with boys.first training tomorrow!!

What it lacks in literary genius (this is Twitter, after all) it makes up for in enthusiasm, and that's the attitude I've seen from a lot of the squad.

Enthusiasm won't win tournaments, but consider this line-up for a moment:

1. Shane Watson/Damien Martyn
2. Graeme Smith
3. Swapnil Asnodkar
4. Abishek Raut
5. Naman Ojha (w)
6. Yusuf Pathan
7. Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
8. Shane Warne (c)
9. Munaf Patel
10. Shaun Tait
11. Siddharth Trivedi

Asnodkar might be used to open with Smith, especially in the first half of the tournament. Shane Watson is still playing in the ODI series against New Zealand and won't be available until midway through the IPL.

In that case Martyn would probably bat at three, giving way once Watson returns.

There are other good international players that could be rotated in and out, including Dimitri Mascarenhas, Morne Morkel, Adam Voges, Michael Lumb and Johan Botha.

There are some serious T20 players in that line-up, including some highly promising youngsters. You have three or four explosive top order players, the big-hitting Yusuf Pathan in the middle and some spankers down the order, not least of which Warne himself.

Tait is the quickest and most dangerous T20 bowler on Earth right now - he can travel but he can also be unplayable. Either way he takes wickets.

Trivedi and Patel are good bowlers and Watson is a great option considering his recent bowling form. Warne still tweaks it, as does Pathan, and there are any number of other allrounders who can turn it over if required.

If this side gets it right on the day they can destroy anyone. The key for them will be doing so consistently and bringing their best at the right moments. Timing was everything in the first season of the IPL.

I'm happy to be backing these lads - let's bring it home to Jaipur, baby.

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