The Emerging Media group-owned Rajasthan Royals, who won the inaugural edition of the IPL, were the rank outsiders at the start of the tournament last year, as the only superstars in the team were spin legend Shane Warne and South African captain Graeme Smith. Emerging Media Group, which is chaired by Manoj Badale, and has Lachlan Murdoch, Sir. Aditya S Chellaram and Suresh Chellaram, bought the franchise for $67 million.
The Royals, who were the least expensive franchise in the IPL, lost their first match in the IPL, but brilliant captaincy by Warne, who is also the team’s coach, and contributions from all the team members, they were the first team to qualify for the semifinals with a 11-3 record in the round-robin stage. The Royals defeated Chennai Super Kings in the final of the inaugural IPL.
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her business partner Raj Kundra paid approximately $15.4 million for a 11.7 percent stake in the Royals in February 2009.
Team India as it gears up to defend its Twenty20 World Cup title in June, feels all-rounder Yusuf Pathan.
“The IPL is a good opportunity for the Indian team to prepare before it heads for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup,” said Yusuf, who was a member of the triumphant Indian team captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni [...]
Cape Cobras v Rajasthan Royals, Cape Town
The Rajasthan Royals’ warm-up for next week’s IPL began with defeat to the Cape Cobras at Newlands. The defending IPL champions, fielding an XI that included rookie Indians and a few first-time overseas names, did well in the field but couldn’t reach the target of 143 set by the [...]
Few players better exemplify cricket’s changing landscape than Tyron Henderson. A journeyman allrounder – Middlesex represents his seventh club across two countries – Henderson found success late in his career in the 20-over format. The result? A $650,000 contract with the defending IPL champions, the Rajasthan Royals, at the age of 34.
Henderson can scarcely believe [...]
“Kudos to the South African government and South Africa cricket body who have welcomed us with open arms and I am really hopeful after attending the Australia vs South Africa Pro T20 Match on Friday, seeing the huge cricket fan base there, I am sure that the IPL will be hugely successful,” Shilpa posted on [...]
The Rajasthan Royals, winners of the inaugural IPL, will take on the Cobras, champions of South Africa’s Pro20 series this season, in two Twenty20 matches ahead of the second season of the IPL. The two games are scheduled for April 11 and 12 and have been billed as the “Clash of Champions”.
The Cobras have a [...]
