Underdogs get their bite

One always tends to associate the word 'underdogs' with the Rajasthan Royals. Over the previous IPL seasons, the team had a bank of what they call the 'bits-and-pieces' players, and they punched above their weight.

But things are different this time. They now have a bank of genuine match-winners, including three World Cup champions (Shane Watson, Steve Smith, James Faulkner), a World Cup finalist (Tim Southee), and a host of quality Indian players such as Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni and Stuart Binny.

In short, they are no more the underdogs, and are expected to do well this season. And with expectations comes pressure. But captain Watson is more excited than nervous.

"It doesn't add pressure, I think it's just really exciting," Watson said before the team's practise session at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on Monday. "This IPL season, we've got match-winners right throughout our team, whereas in the previous seasons we've not had that many. And we've got world-class match-winners as well. So for me that's the most exciting part about the squad.

"Yes, we normally are the underdogs, but with the quality of players that we have got this time, we understand what people will expect of us, and we know exactly what we can achieve."

An example of that change in Royals can be gauged from the fact that Smith wasn't a regular part of their team last season. Can one imagine the Aussie sitting out of any team now, let alone the Royals?

After having a dream summer back in Australia, where he scored heaps of runs against India and in the World Cup, Smith, along with Rahane, will be the fulcrum of their batting line-up.

But how the team management uses Smith will be key. Australia decided to promote the 25-year-old to No. 3 and drop Watson to No. 5 mid-way into the World Cup, and it proved to be a masterstroke. Smith became the anchor of the batting unit, and Watson a finisher. Can one expect a similar role for both in the Royals?

Smith left it to his skipper to answer that.

"It's something that we have to actually sit down and talk with everybody, the coaching staff and Steve to try and work out what the exact role of both of us would be," Watson said. "I've got my thoughts about it, and I'm sure the other guys have some too. We're very lucky to have an incredibly talented batsman in our squad, so no matter what, no matter where we bat, we're hopefully going to fire."

Asked if changing formats in such short time after the World Cup would prove to be a challenge, Smith said: "I don't think it'll be that difficult at all. It's part and parcel of the game these days because we play such a lot of cricket all over the world so often. So I think the boys are used to it. I think for me, Shane and Jimmy (Faulkner) who've been in Australia for a long time, it's just about getting used to the conditions quickly. One-day to T20 is just about shifting to that next gear, and getting that run rate moving a little bit quicker," he said.

The skipper heaped praise on Rahane, saying he handled the Australian conditions well.

"Ajinkya batted incredibly well in Australia. It was exciting for us to see the way he batted in the Test and ODI series. He has so much time, so many range of shots. The way he handled the pace and bounce in the Australian conditions was very exciting to see. He is going to be a crucial part of our team," he said.

As for the man himself, Rahane said he was looking forward to getting back to action after a bit of a break.

"I came back (from Australia) and spent time with my family. I've just got married, so I was with my wife. I started training two days back, and I'm really excited about this season," the Mumbaikar said.

ROYAL TALK
Skipper Watson also spoke on other things...

On facing a Wahab Riaz kind of spell in IPL
I'm not really keen to face that type of bowling (laughs). We have the best of the world's fast bowlers going around in the IPL. So it will be a big challenge for me. It's nice to not see Wahab here, that's for sure. It was something that I will look back as being a great time for my career, to be out there sticking it out after a bit of luck. Steve Smith didn't look after me, getting off strike and getting me on strike (laughs).

On how IPL has helped Australians
It certainly has. It's ensured that we come over and play a lot more cricket in India, and not just against India, which I've had my issues in the past playing for Australia. So playing for a local franchise, in front of a billion people, it's a great change for us. It's incredible the amount of passion Indians have for cricket. And it's very special for me to be a part of that.