Royals Raj at last?

A lot of water has flown under the bridge for Rajasthan Royals since the start of last season with three of their players getting life-bans for involvement in spot-fixing plus allegations of owners (or enthusiasts?)  involved in betting. It is difficult for a team to concentrate on the matters in hand when so much is happening outside and also when the players you trust let you down then you feel for the captain and that too the person of the stature of Rahul Dravid whose image is as clean as a whistle. But amid all the ruins, the Wall just like in the series against England stood tall and took the Royals almost to the cup of Champions League glory(beaten by the mighty Mumbai Indians in finals).This would have added to their immense self-belief and confidence.
They have kept the core of the team from the last season intact except the talismanic skipper, who has retired and taken on the mantle of a mentor and possess a mixture of young sensations like Samson, Rahane , Binny and wily old foxes like Hodge and Tambe. Add to that the belligerence of Watson who is now their new skipper and aggression of Faulkner (I hope Faulkner delivers more with the ball than mouth) it looks a unit which can give any team a run for their money on any given day. I also echo the ideology of this team which Dravid mentioned after the auction that along with eyeing IPL glory they want to groom youngsters so that at the end Indian Cricket would be the beneficiaries.
We will have to wait and see who opens with ‘Jinx’ (Rahane) at the top. Best choice would be Watto, just because it would complement Rahane’s game and 6 overs of   Watto usually means half the battle won!!.The young Keralite(Samson) would come in an at No.3.Middle order looks in good hands of Unorthodox Smith, Unlucky Abhishek Nayar (He just cannot break into the Indian team) and Hodge(No need for any description). The batting looks in good shape and capable of chasing or setting any scores.
Their domestic pace bowling looks a bit thin with Trivedi being handed a 1-year ban for not reporting an approach from the bookies to the BCCI. A lot will depend on Faulkner and Cooper who have the ability to bamboozle any batsman with their variations and are also good death-bowlers. Middle-part will be in the hands of Tambe who must be thinking that life has started at the age of 42. What a revelation the burly Mumbaikar has been for the Royals.
Rajasthan Royals have always been the underdogs since the commencement of the IPL and this title has suited them. Warnies ‘gamblers’ sprung a surprise when they defeated the mighty Super Kings in the inaugural edition. From then on it has been a bit of a struggle for the Royals. The team has the potential to finish in top four and from thereon it is anybody’s game.
Will there be Royals ‘Raj’ in this year’s IPL…….Let’s wait!  June is not far.
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