Vaibhav’s rise and Jadeja’s return the focus for Royals

The 2008 champions have undergone a mini-churn, and how it all fits in will decide how far they rise from 9th last edition

- N Ananthanarayanan

They were the inaugural champions, giving the nascent Indian Premier League its first feelgood story. That is why Rajasthan Royals are allowed a big dose of nostalgia as the premier T20 competition goes into its 19th season.

The fans of RR can look back fondly to when the boy newly nicknamed ‘rock star’ helped them become the first to show they were in the pink of health in the shortest format in 2008, while wearing a bright blue.

Ravindra Jadeja, a callow 19 then is now a wise 37 and has been more of a rock for India and for Chennai Super Kings since 2012. The current version of the allrounder is more likely to slip back into his original IPL team, like the stealthily operating fielder and catcher he still is but someone who has this knack of staying in the background while his high-profile teammates enjoy the spotlight.

Like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, he is the longest running saga in the IPL. Other than Rohit, he is the only player who can boast six league titles. What Jadeja can bring to the RR camp would have been the trending story, however, in a different context. After RR faded to ninth last term, the side seemingly feeling the undercurrent of change and revamp, promises much for a new beginning, and possibly a hole.