First IPL Winning Team: Rajasthan Royals

The Rajasthan Royals were the first team to clinch victory in the inaugural season of the IPL (Indian Premier League) when the league was introduced by the BCCI. Among the original eight teams in the 2008 edition, the Rajasthan Royals were acquired by Emerging Media for $67 million, making them the least expensive team in the league.

Despite the excitement surrounding the launch of this Twenty20 competition, many cricket enthusiasts had already placed their bets on the more well-known teams, often associated with Bollywood celebrities and business moguls. With modest spending in the auction, relatively unknown players, and predictions from experts, the Rajasthan Royals were considered underdogs even before their debut match.

Following a disheartening nine-wicket loss to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in their opening match, doubts about the team’s potential seemed confirmed. Despite being led by the esteemed Shane Watson, concerns loomed over the team. However, Watson’s leadership, characterized by composure and a knack for handling pressure, soon turned the tide.

Their fortunes changed dramatically when they secured their first victory against Kings XI Punjab at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This win was not merely luck; subsequent games in the tournament proved the team’s mettle as they consistently emerged victorious.

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Thanks to the outstanding performances of multiple players, the Rajasthan Royals advanced to the semi-finals of the IPL, surpassing predictions and demonstrating their strength as a team. Facing the same team that had defeated them in their first match, the Royals showcased their resilience and secured a place in the finals against MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.

In a thrilling finale, the Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious, marking a perfect end to the inaugural IPL tournament. Their triumph epitomized the journey from underdogs to champions, solidifying their status as the inaugural IPL champions.

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Home Ground of RR

The Royals’ home base is the Sawai Mansingh Stadium located in Jaipur. This arena, built during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, stands at the edge of the Rambagh Circle. With a seating capacity of 30,000, it is regarded as one of India’s finest venues, especially following its renovation in 2006. Additionally, Rajasthan Royals’ home matches have been held at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati during the 2023 season. Following a two-year suspension and a subsequent four-year ban on hosting matches, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium resumed hosting Royals’ home games starting from the 2018 IPL season.

Team Anthem

The anthem for the team was initially “Halla Bol,” with Ila Arun performing it during the inaugural IPL season. In the following season, Sunidhi Chauhan took over singing duties. Their current anthem remains “Halla Bol,” now performed by Amit Trivedi and Mame Khan.

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Rajasthan Royals: Then & Now

• After clinching a historic victory in the inaugural IPL season, Rajasthan Royals’ fortunes seemed promising.
• Entrepreneur Raj Kundra and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, his wife, acquired an 11.7 percent stake in RR for $15.4 million. Shilpa, also a co-owner, actively engaged in promotional activities, appearing in televised campaigns and passionately supporting the team by chanting the anthem ‘Halla Bol’ in the stands.
• However, the team’s jubilation was short-lived. In 2009, the BCCI enforced a ban on Pakistani cricket players’ participation in the IPL, resulting in the departure of key players Sohail Tanvir and Kamran Akmal, who had played pivotal roles in the team’s initial success.
• In the 2009 IPL season, Rajasthan Royals finished sixth among the eight competing teams. Subsequently, the team’s performance in following seasons consistently fell short, with them typically occupying either the sixth or seventh spot and exiting tournaments prematurely.
• In 2013, three players from Rajasthan Royals—Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, and Ajit Chandila—were apprehended by the Delhi Police in Mumbai, along with eleven bookies, on charges related to spot-fixing in the tournament. In response, RR promptly suspended the contracts of the implicated players pending investigation. Due to the BCCI’s strict anti-corruption stance, they were handed lifetime bans from all cricketing activities. However, in March 2019, the Supreme Court overturned Sreesanth’s ban.
• Furthermore, in 2013, co-owner Raj Kundra came under scrutiny by the Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in illicit betting. Admitting to betting on his team, Kundra was consequently suspended from the IPL, permanently banned by the BCCI, and stripped of his shares in the franchise.
• In 2015, Rajasthan Royals faced a two-year ban from the BCCI following findings from the Lodha Committee inquiry. The team stirred controversy due to irregular and fictitious bids, breaching BCCI regulations, with only Ranjit Barthakur and Fraser Castellino as known shareholders, a fact unbeknownst to the BCCI until then. An undisclosed settlement followed between the involved parties. Additionally, Raj Kundra, the team’s owner, received a lifetime ban from the BCCI.
• In 2018, Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural IPL champions, prepared to return after their ban. They retained Steve Smith for Rs. 120 million and named him captain for the 2018 season. However, Smith was compelled to step down amidst the Australia ball-tampering scandal, resulting in his exclusion from the 2018 IPL season. Ajinkya Rahane promptly assumed the captaincy.
• During the same year, Jos Buttler achieved the fastest 50 in Rajasthan Royals history, scoring off just 18 balls, marking the fifth-fastest fifty in IPL history.
• With their comeback in 2018, Rajasthan Royals performed commendably, securing fourth place in the season, reaching the playoffs, and concluding with 14 points.
• In 2019, Steve Smith returned to the IPL with Rajasthan Royals. Initially led by Ajinkya Rahane, Smith reassumed captaincy due to unsatisfactory team performances.

Rajasthan Royals are widely regarded as the epitome of the “moneyball” approach within the IPL.

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Indian Premier League

Statistics Summary of results

Prominent Players of the Rajasthan Royals

Known for their remarkable rise in 2008, the Rajasthan Royals are celebrated for their knack of turning underrated players into game-changers. From the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson to Karun Nair, Shane Watson, and Shreyas Gopal, the team has consistently fostered successful talents. Renowned for their shrewd recruitment strategy, the Rajasthan Royals often acquired lesser-known or uncapped players, a tactic that garnered attention during the triennial mega-auctions.

While some players may have gone unnoticed by fans, numerous others in the Rajasthan Royals roster deserve recognition for their invaluable contributions to the team.

Yusuf Pathan emerged as a standout performer for RR during IPL 2008, finishing as the team’s top run-scorer and making a significant impact in the final with both bat and ball.

Shane Watson’s stellar performance in the same season, where he amassed 472 runs and claimed 17 wickets, further solidified his status as a key player for the franchise.

Ravindra Jadeja’s journey to international stardom is often attributed to MS Dhoni, but it was under the mentorship of Shane Warne, the team’s captain in 2008, that he was dubbed a ‘rockstar’ with immense potential

Ajinkya Rahane’s memorable century in the IPL propelled him into the spotlight, and his consistent performances have since made him a mainstay in the RR lineup, including his notable performance as the third highest run-scorer in the 2018 season.

Ben Stokes has been a reliable all-rounder for the team, often providing the impact of two players in one.

Steve Smith, although barred from playing in 2018, made a strong comeback in 2019 and is slated to lead the team in the upcoming 2020 edition.

Jofra Archer, a significant acquisition in the 2018 auction, has proven to be a versatile asset with his rapid bowling, emerging as the highest wicket-taker for RR in 2018 and expected to play a pivotal role in subsequent seasons.

Shreyas Gopal etched his name in IPL history with a remarkable hat-trick against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019, showcasing his talent and potential for the team’s success.

Team History of Rajasthan Royals

2008 IPL Season:

Leading up to the debut IPL season, the Royals were often regarded as one of the least formidable teams, with slim prospects of making a mark in the tournament. This perception was reinforced after their initial defeat against the Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets, affirming concerns about their anticipated difficulties in the competition.

2009 IPL Season:

The Royals were the defending champions. Sohail Tanvir couldn’t participate in the team’s matches because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn’t furnish the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Pakistani players competing in the tournament. Similarly, Shane Watson was absent throughout the season due to Australia’s tour to the UAE for an ODI series against Pakistan. In the absence of these two individuals, the team appeared somewhat diminished compared to the previous season, necessitating a heavier reliance on players like Graeme Smith, Shaun Tait, and Shane Warne.

2010 IPL Season:

The Royals were back in India after their average outing in South Africa. This time they seemed to be a better outfit as they were to play in conditions that should have suited them the most. But they had to suffer an unfortunate start to the competition, with a narrow 4 run defeat to the Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The highlight of this match though, was Yusuf Pathan hitting the fastest ever hundred in IPL history, off only 37 balls.

2011 IPL Season:

The Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab faced temporary expulsion from the league due to undisclosed changes in ownership. Following intervention from the High Court, both teams were reinstated. The owners had divided into multiple legal entities to comply with the BCCI’s demand for corporate incorporation. Kochi was also at risk of ejection for the same reasons before BCCI cleared their new ownership pattern for the tournament.

2012 IPL Season:

Rajasthan Royals finished in seventh place among the points table in season 5 of the IPL, winning only seven matches out of sixteen.

2013 IPL Season:

Rajasthan Royals secured a place in the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 playoffs after clinching third position in the group stage. This achievement earned them a spot in the prestigious tournament.They won against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator but lost to Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier, which led to their exit from the tournament.

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2014 IPL Season:

Rajasthan Royals chose to keep Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, and Stuart Binny on their roster for the seventh season of the IPL. James Faulkner scored 65 runs off the last 17 balls at a strike rate of 382.35 to win the match against RCB.

2015 IPL Season:

In the 2015 IPL, Rajasthan Royals qualified for the playoffs by finishing fourth in the league stage, but lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator, which led to their exit from the tournament.

2018 IPL Season:

In 2018, the Rajasthan Royals made a comeback to the IPL after two years of suspension. Prior to the 2018 IPL auction, the Royals retained Steve Smith for ₹120 million (US$1.5 million), announcing him as captain for the 2018 season. After the ball tampering incident in March 2018, Smith relinquished his role as captain of the Royals, with Ajinkya Rahane assuming the position. As a consequence, Smith faced a ban from participating in the 2018 IPL season.

2019 IPL Season:

Before the 2019 IPL Auction, the Royals decided to keep 16 players on their roster while releasing 9 players. During the auction, Rajasthan bought 9 players.

Paddy Upton was named the Royals coach ahead of 2019 Indian Premier League. Steve Smith made a comeback to the IPL on 25 March 2019 after he was banned by BCCI to participate in the 2018 season due to Australian ball-tampering controversy.

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2020 IPL Season:

Ahead of 2020 IPL Auction, Royals retained 11 players and released 11 players. Royals have traded Ajinkya Rahane, Krishnappa Gowtham, Dhawal Kulkarni to Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians respectively. Royals bought Mayank Markande, Rahul Tewatia and Ankit Rajpoot via trade from Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab.

Andrew McDonald was named the Royals head coach of 2020 Indian Premier League replacing Paddy Upton. Steve Smith was named to continue as captain of Royals.

2021 IPL Season:

On 20 January 2021, ahead of the auction for the 2021 Indian Premier League, Rajasthan released eight players, including their captain Steve Smith. On the same day, they also announced that Sanju Samson would be the captain for the 2021 season.

2022 IPL Season:

On 30 November 2021, ahead of the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League, Rajasthan retained their captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal, releasing every other player who from 2021.

2023 IPL Season:

RR whose Full Form is Rajasthan Royals started their 2023 campaign with a 72 runs victory margin against SRH. The excellent form of talented young Yashasvi Jaiswal was the biggest achievement for RR. Jaiswal who was the ‘Emerging Player of the Season’ award winner, made 625 runs in 14 games with an elegant average of 48.07 and a superb strike rate of 163.61.

This season was full of ups and downs for the Sanju Samson-led side. They won 7 games and lost the same number of games in the toughest T20 league and finished at 5th position in IPL points table.

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RR IPL 2024 Schedule: Rajasthan Royals full list of matches, venues, dates, timings

The Rajasthan Royals’ schedule for IPL 2024 has been unveiled, featuring a series of matches against various opponents at different venues. The tournament kicks off on March 22 at the M.A. Chennai’s Chidambaram Stadium, serving as the home turf for the current title holders, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This announcement comes precisely one month prior to the commencement of the IPL.

Below is the complete list of matches for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024:

• Rajasthan Royals vs. Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 in Jaipur at 3:30 PM IST
•  Rajasthan Royals vs. Delhi Capitals on March 28 in Jaipur at 7:30 PM IST
• Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians on April 1 in Mumbai at 7:30 PM IST
• Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur at 7:30 PM IST
  

RR squad for IPL 2024 season

The squad selected for the IPL 2024 season by RR consists of Sanju Samson as captain, Jos Buttler, Kunal Rathore, Yashasvi Jaiswal,Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag,  Avesh Khan, Donovan Ferreira, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Avesh Khan, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abid Mushtaq, and Nandre Burger.