By: Tarish Bhatt
When you have star-studded teams like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals seem to look lost among them. But, make no mistake, this is one the most balanced outfits in the forthcoming Indian Premier League season.
Rajasthan have always banked on Indian players and working as a team is their real strength since the days of Shane Warne, which was carried by Rahul Dravid and now Shane Watson. Watson could lead them to glory but it would not be an easy task.
Players like Sanju Samson, Rajat Bhatia and Stuart Binny will form core of the Royals, while Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni would have to use their international experience and absorb pressure, to provide fluency to the team.
Watson, meanwhile, would have to be the sheet anchor in the way he carried Australia a couple of times in the World Cup. The experience of the former Aussie skipper will come handy for the Royals in crunch situation and big opposition.
There is no guarantee to success in any format of the game, but having someone like James Faulkner, who can use the long handle and also bowl in the death, is certainly handy. Faulkner knows sub-continent conditions and he would be ace player for the former champions.
Steve Smith, well this guy is in form of his life and if there is any player who can construct the innings, he is the man. Smith will be Royals go-to man, who is quite good in pacing the innings at will.
At the end, Royals have all the ingredients to be a successful outfit this season, despite not many big name, and they would be hoping to prove their worth.
