Ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, it has been an absolute treat to watch some of the finest T20 cricketers from all over the world locking horns with each other. From famous international stars to emerging players, IPL has a unique mix that grabs cricket fans’ attention worldwide. Amongst them is Rajasthan Royals (RR), one of the strongest teams in the tournament and season one winners whose philosophy has always revolved around promoting young talents and underdogs. In this article, let’s delve into those unsung heroes who made significant contributions towards increasing RR’s status.
The underrated workhorses
Rahul Dravid: Known as “The Wall” of Indian cricket due to his consistent performances at both national and international levels, Rahul Dravid might be remembered more for his days in Test cricket rather than T20. However, having served as a player between 2011-13 and later tabbing up Coach’s responsibility, he provided solid foundations for RR’s structure. He was key in emphasizing on scouting new talent within India and giving chances to younger players.
Siddharth Trivedi:
A medium-fast bowler hailing from Gujarat, Siddharth played for RR from 2008-2013 before being suspended for illegal betting activities. During these years, this right-arm pacer played crucial spells during different stages of matches displaying extraordinary discipline.
Ajinkya Rahane: Often known as “The Second Wall”. The Mumbaikar Ajinkya Rahane batted primarily at No.4 but spent considerable time opening too. His stability ensured outcomes even when innings were not going according to plan.
Promising Finds
Sanju Samson:
A wicket-keeper-batsman from Kerala, Sanju, has been consistent over the years and shown immense potential but often struggled with converting starts into big scores. Nevertheless, he possesses an incredible ability to shift gears according to situation and dismantle any bowling attack on his day.
Rahul Tewatia:
Tewatia proved his mettle in IPL 2020 when he stunned everyone with his explosive batting power, most notably hitting Sheldon Cottrell for 5 sixes in an over. He demonstrated an exceptional all-rounder skill throughout showing prowess as a spinner too.
The Future
We may have many more unsung heroes rise through the ranks in upcoming seasons of the IPL who are waiting for their opportunity in RR’s squad: they could be the future stars of World Cricket who remain unappreciated now but might deservingly bask under the limelight later.
Closing Remarks
In conclusion, it can’t genuinely be stated that these players went unnoticed or lacked laurels; there seldomly is dubiety about their skills from true cricket enthusiasts. However, it is also precise that being shadowed by contemporary acclaimed performers to some degree led to them getting lesser shares of the much deserved acclaim. In RR’s case specifically, despite this handful lot not succeeding collectively at clinching titles routinely minus a single instance (2008), Rajasthan Royals’ fans thank them secretly every time a young talent breaks onto the fore courtesy of their founding stone policies – The fantabulous stocking underdogs!
