The Rajasthan Royals claimed the inaugural Indian Premier League title last year when they beat the Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the final in Mumbai.
The team is led by legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who is also the coach.
Warne is the only non-Indian captain in the competition. South African captain Graeme Smith and fast bowler Morne Morkel, as well as Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson are some of the stars who play for the Royals.
Smith topped the batting averages for Rajasthan last year, scoring 441 runs in 11 innings at an average of 49. Watson scored the most runs (472 in 15 innings) at an average of 47.2 and a strike rate of 151.76.
Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir picked up the most wickets for the Royals and was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 22 wickets in 11 games. Warne followed closely with 19 wickets in 15 matches.
The Emerging Media Group owns the side that won 13 of their 16 games in 2008.
Source – thetimes.co.za
UltraTech Cement Limited, the single largest cement brand in the country humbly announced its alliance with the defending champions of Indian Premier League 2008, the Rajasthan Royals. Through this involvement, UltraTech will be the Official Team Sponsor of the Jaipur based IPL Team.
Shilpa Shetty and boyfriend Raj Kundra were present at the event that announced Ultratech Cement Limited as a major contributor to the Rajasthan Royals. Due to their busy schedule, Shilpa Shetty Raj Kundra, co-owners of the Rajasthan Royals will not be present at the IPL opening on April 18. Encouraged leadership, originality, professionalism and a well thought out strategic advance lead the team to win India’s first IPL. By essential roles explicitly and delegating task, the Rajasthan Royals came together as a unified entity, finally rising as champions. This nation completely blends with UltraTech cement who is known to be leaders and champions in its own field.
Ever since February, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and boyfriend Raj Kundra who is a London-based businessman announced that they had bought a 12 percent wager in the Indian Premier League team, the Rajasthan Royals.
‘The team’s success story last year was an inspiration for me. That’s why I am investing in this team,’ Kundra said at a press conference that month. The couple had invested $15.4 million in the team. Shilpa called it a strategic business investment and said: ‘I completely relate to Rajasthan Royals. My story is similar to the team’s journey to the top. It is an honor to be a part of Rajasthan Royals.’ Ever since then, the couple had become proud owners of this winning team.
Shilpa’s heartening words and support charged up the ambience and certainty of the players.
Shilpa said, “Rajasthan Royals is a heady mix of youth, experience and emerging talent and the same even holds true for UltraTech. Through this association we will be cementing our relationship, a definite ‘Best Choice’ for us!”
Source – desihits.com
THE Deccan Chargers won just two of their 14 games last season in the Indian Premier League, but they are a much better side than their results suggested.
They will be captained by legendary Australian wicket-batsman Adam Gilchrist. He was one of just six players to have scored a century (109 not out) in the inaugural tournament, making 436 runs from 14 innings at an average of 33.53 and strike-rate of 137.10.
With players like Gilchrist, South African Herschelle Gibbs, Aussie Andrew Symonds and VVS Laxman of India — who can all take any bowling attack apart on their day — the Chargers will definitely not be thin in the batting department.
With the ball they have several world- class bowlers in Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas, India’s RP Singh and West Indian Fidel Edwards.
Singh took 15 wickets in his 14 games at a healthy average of 29.46 last season.
Allrounders like Symonds, Black Cap Scott Styris and the Windies’ Dwayne Smith will take the rest of the overs.
The team will be coached by former India international Robin Singh, and is owned by the Deccan Chronicle.
Source – thetimes.co.za
A boldly attired Shilpa Shetty joined fiancé and business partner Raj Kundra to launch Rajasthan Royals team T-shirt at ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai, on Tuesday, April 7.
Shilpa wore a sheer black strapless origami pleated dress exposing her white body suit. She accessorized with black T strap heels, stud earrings, a golden watch in her right arm, a yellow topaz ring in her index finger, an emerald ring in the little finger of right hand and her engagement rock in her left hand ring finger.
Her lustrous brown colored hair, styled with a side parting and out turned ends, cascaded down her back.
Shilpa appears on the cover of April issue of Indian edition of Cosmopolitan labeled ‘Shilpa Shetty: Sexy, Sporty and Stylish’. In the accompanying cover story, she reveals the secrets behind her svelte figure – proper nutrition and hard work-out.
Apart from promoting her IPL cricket team she has recently launched her beauty spa ‘Iosis’ with beauty expert Kiran Bawa. She is also filming for Indo-China project Desire.
About her marriage, the 33-year-old says her hands are full right now and she has not decided on a date yet.
“I will be more than happy to make an official announcement the day we are ready to make one but for now the congratulatory calls can be kept on hold. My hands are quite full right now juggling so many things.”
Source – news.sawf.org
AS BRETT Lee flew to South Africa in an effort to prove his readiness for a comeback, fellow fast bowler Shaun Tait still had not received permission to play in the Indian Premier League, raising fresh questions about his fitness and future as a Cricket Australia-contracted player.
Tait is in an unusual position because he is regarded as a specialist in the short forms of the game and, while he attracted a $US375,000 ($524,461) price tag from the Rajasthan Royals, has no guarantees from Cricket Australia beyond June 30, when his national contract expires.
The 26-year-old, who was troubled by hamstring soreness throughout the summer and used in short bursts at international level, last week was named in Australia’s preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 championships in England, and is expected to consult Cricket Australia medical staff in Melbourne this week seeking clearance to join Shane Warne and Graeme Smith at the Royals from April 18.
Should CA refuse to release him, the powerful paceman could come to represent the modern dilemma between club and country. He could conceivably earn more by extending his time in the IPL, without the restrictions of a national contract.
Rick Olarenshaw from the Essentially group that manages Tait said the paceman was “ready to play” but confirmed CA had not given its blessing because of concerns about his body. A CA spokesman said Tait’s rehabilitation from a hamstring tendon injury was being monitored and when he was cleared it would be for all levels of cricket, not just the IPL.
Lee is also awaiting clearance to return from foot surgery — either in this month’s limited-overs series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates or with the Punjab Kings XI in the IPL — and he has previously declared his ambition to again grasp the new ball for this year’s Ashes.
Lee’s manager, Neil Maxwell, said the fast bowler had journeyed to South Africa with NSW physiotherapist Pat Farhart and a fitness trainer to step up his training and confer with Australian team medical staff during the one-day series against the Proteas.
“He has gone over there to do some bowling outdoors and the Australian cricket team will be in the same city at some point so he’s going to catch up with the medical staff there,” Maxwell said.
Australia’s selectors are expected to announce a squad for the Pakistan series this week, but cannot unveil the list of contracted players for 2009-10 until a new pay deal is in place. It is believed the number of contracts offered will remain at 25, but the size of the player-payment pool remains a sticking point between CA and the player union.
Source – theage.com.au