Almost every year, Rajasthan Royals go into the Indian Premier League with the ‘underdogs’ tag. They have not gone out of their way to ask for it, but have walked with it proudly nonetheless.
As a result, irrespective of how they have fared, they have always managed to gladden the hearts of people and won a lot of accolades for their policy of giving young cricketers, who may have struggled elsewhere, an opportunity to express themselves. And almost as a direct sign of acknowledgment, the players have welcomed the responsibility and not been overawed by the big stage.
Seven years is good time, in fact a long time in sport, and a good sample size to consider. In their title-winning run in the inaugural edition in 2008, Rajasthan unearthed Swapnil Asnodkar, Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja.
Yusuf and Jadeja had come along different paths. Of course, Yusuf was a part of the World Twenty20 winning side in 2007, but his habit of scoring big runs for Baroda and the manner in which he did so, got people to sit up and take notice.
Meanwhile, Jadeja was signed on after India’s Under 19 World Cup triumph in Malaysia a month prior to the inaugural edition. He soon found himself in a cauldron where the world’s best ply their trade. Whether a wiry young man from Saurashtra, who was not yet sure if he was a batting or bowling all-rounder, had it in him to go all the way was foremost on everyone’s minds. There was no instant recognition and even the ‘Sir Jadeja’ salutations were a few years away. He was persisted with, nurtured, given the confidence to face the world and today, he is one of the best left-arm spinners in limited-overs cricket.
“When I came in to the Rajasthan Royals dressing room for the first time, I was completely star struck,” Jadeja said. “I was thinking how I would communicate with Shane Warne. Obviously he was a legend, I was a small-town boy straight out of the Under 19s. While I could understand what he was telling me, I couldn’t express myself clearly. But it did not matter.
“He was a very positive person and I was lucky to have his influence early on in my career. I’m definitely what I am today because of the time spent there. When I then got selected for Indian team and didn’t have a successful run early in my career, I saw the same captaincy traits in MS Dhoni. No matter what the world thinks, you knew these guys were there for you.”
The following year, Kamran Khan, an unknown left-arm seamer from Uttar Pradesh who moved to Mumbai to play cricket, caught the fancy of the team. A slinging action and ability to bowl at a good pace earned him a contract. It was then that the talk of Rajasthan backing and nurturing players with potential started to surface. To their credit, it is a tradition that has not been lost in the multi-million dollar advertising industry, where companies associate with teams purely on the basis of involving ‘star players’ to endorse their brand.
In 2011, much before Ajinkya Rahane broke in to the Indian team, he was opening the batting with Rahul Dravid, and two years later, Sanju Samson and Pravin Tambe came as a whiff of fresh air. The only difference being the two had an age gap of over 20 years. Did it matter? No.
Samson, an 18 year old from Kerala who aspires to be an Indian Administrative Services officer one day, had spent time with Kolkata Knight Riders without getting a game, while Tambe was taking wickets for his club in Mumbai after pleading for permission from his employers to take leave. It is a job he eventually quit to play cricket. Their common bond was their passion for the game and if not for the Royals, it could have been very likely that such stories could have escaped us all.
The very fact that they are recognised today as proven performers can be put down to the confidence instilled in them.
The Rajasthan engine room is a close-knit one. Dravid and Paddy Upton complement each other superbly. Their camaraderie has rubbed off on to the team. Whether at a training session, team outing or even while walking out onto the field, there is a strong sense of belonging in each and every member of the squad – young or old.
Every member of the side has his role defined before a game. Not many would have expected Karun Nair to make the starting XI so early, let alone win a match single-handedly. But Karun, a soft-spoken 23 year old who is coming off a victorious debut season with Karnataka, put twin failures behind him to guide the team home against Delhi Daredevils with a calm unbeaten 73 on Saturday.
“That is what the Royals are about, each of us is given a role and our goals are underlined clearly,” Karun said. “And we’re backed. Even after not getting runs in the first two games, I still had the belief and confidence to go out there and express myself. They believe in my ability and I can’t ask for more. The support staff and captain have encouraged each and every player in the squad and it is a wonderful dressing room to be a part of.”
And it is easy to take Karun’s words at face value, for the team is indeed a close-knit one. Maybe the unfortunate events of last year, with three of the players under the spot-fixing scanner, brought them even closer. And the team spirit is visible in every aspect of their game.
In Saturday’s game against Delhi Daredevils, there was an instance where Tambe dived to stop the ball and fired a rocket throw to the bowler’s end. After the over, all members of the team went up to him and slapped a high five. Tambe giggled and walked away quietly. As he went back to the ropes, the giant screen flashes a congratulatory message as the crowd went up in applause. Tambe gently raised his hand up, almost out of compulsion. The cameras captured all members having a hearty laugh after watching that on the giant screen.
Later, when he was called on to bowl, he was hit for a crunching cover drive and a fierce cut. The batsmen had made their intentions clear. During the strategic time-out, he was involved in an animated discussion with Dravid. No amount of lip reading would have given away what was being discussed, but the Tambe who came out after the break clearly looked like he had a different mindset.
His took two wickets, adding the scalp of Kevin Pietersen in a kitty that already boasts big victims like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Jacques Kallis. His strikes decelerated Delhi’s innings and helped restrict them, eventually letting Rajasthan canter home.
In a tournament that moves at a furious pace, it is moments like these that stand out. At times when you struggle to remember when two sides last met or who top-scored in any given match, Rajasthan have given plenty of such moments.
sports@thenational.ae
Shashank Kishore is a sub-editor at Wisden India. Visit www.wisdenindia.com or follow them on Twitter @WisdenIndia.
You can also follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Bullet%20Train
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
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The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
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INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars