Page 212 - IPL 2

T here is something about underdog stories that had not left their state, let alone their country, the

hooks us emotionally. In life, film or sport. When Royals knew that South Africa would be quite an
they sneak up on oppositions and show that uphill task.

form is bigger than reputation, that big hearts
will achieve more than big money. India in the Behind the scenes a fair bit had transpired leading

1983 World Cup, South Africa in the 1995 Rugby up to the 2nd season. The franchise, which had
World Cup and the Rajasthan Royals in the first been bought at the lowest price, showed astute

edition of the DLF IPL. It was a fairytale. The best business sense in getting new owners on board.
scriptwriters would’ve been stretched to think up They had the flamboyant Shane Warne in the store;

a potboiler such as this. they now needed a high glamour quotient in the
display window. And with Shilpa Shetty and Raj
But that was the past. Now was the time to show Kundra, Manoj Badale found just the combination

the skeptics that season 1 wasn’t a flash in the he was looking for in prospective partners. The
pan, that it wasn’t a fluke. price and the image were both perfect fits, and off

they went.
One of their biggest strengths in season 1,

inexperience, could become a foe in the second. Mascots were revealed, videos were shot, ad films
The untested Indian commodities would now face completed. But as much as Warnie flashed that

oppositions who would know their game, and their disarming smile, he knew that his real job lay in the
strategies. There would no longer be an element dressing room and on the practice ground. None

of surprise in Rajasthan’s arsenal. The Royals’ star of his squad needed to be taught to play cricket,
performers were missing, season 1, spearheads they didn’t need motivation, they were defending

Shane Watson and Sohail Tanveer. Added to the champions after all, eager to keep winning. What
fact that most of the Indian players in the squad they did need was some handholding. These were

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