IPL 2018, Rajasthan Royals, Gameplan, IPL Auction 2018, Bengaluru, Steven Smith,
Rajasthan Royals management has been calculative in the past editions. Photo Credit IPL/BCCI.

In a first, Rajasthan Royals will announce captain for the upcoming IPL season on live television.

The programme will have a live telecast on Star Sports, starting at 7 PM.

It will be the first time in the history of IPL when a team will announce its captain on live television.

Rajasthan Royals, Gameplan, IPL Auction 2018, Bengaluru, Steven Smith,
Steven Smith looks set to lead the team. Photo Credit: IPL/BCCI.

Though, it is sort of confirmed that Steven Smith will lead the team.

Read More  Even after being torn apart, Hardik Pandya equals Rohit Sharma's mammoth record in IPL

He was also the captain of the team in 2015 before the franchise was banned for a period of two years.

Smith later played under MS Dhoni in IPL 2016 when RR was banned.

In 2017, though, Rising Pune Supergiant decided to hand captaincy duties to Smith, and he led the team to the final of the tournament.

He looks all set to perform the same role once again,

“The captain plays an important role as there are players coming from different countries and he needs to bring them all together. A captain is instrumental in creating a culture within the team wherein everyone gels with each other on and off the field. We indeed have some great choices – the likes of Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith – who bring leadership values with them. Jos Buttler too has capabilities to lead a team,” Shane Warne, the team’s mentor said.

Smith was the only player who was retained by the franchise on the IPL retention day.

The franchise spent an amount of Rs 12.50 Crore to gain his services.

Rajasthan Royals, Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith, Jaydev Unadkat, Sanju Samson
Rajasthan Royals retained Ajinkya Rahane by the use of RTM card. Photo Credit: IPL/BCCI.

Later, the franchise also used their Right to Match card on Ajinkya Rahane, thus retaining the core of its batting.

Today, the franchise might officially also announce Rahane as the vice-captain of the side.

Read More  Delhi Capitals Playing 11 vs Rajasthan Royals- IPL 2024, Match 9

Rajasthan Royals have recently made few appointments as well.

Apart from roping in Shane Warne as the mentor, the franchise has also roped in Amol Muzumdar and Sairaj Bahutule in different roles.

Though it is yet to confirm the news, both the former players were a part of the camp that took place in Mumbai.

Last month, the franchise also appointed Zubin Bharucha as Head of Cricketing Operations.

The one-time champions team is leaving no stone unturned to relive the glory once again.

In the quest to do so, it also opened its purse for big players.

Rajasthan Royals bought the highest paid player in the auction viz Ben Stokes.

He was sold for an amount of Rs 12.50 Crore.

The franchise also bough Jaydev Unadkat – the second highest buy in the IPL auction.

Unadkat was sold at Rs 11.50 Crore.

The upcoming season of IPL will start on April 7, with Mumbai Indians set to face Chennai Super Kings in the opening contest.

Rajasthan Royals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first contest on April 9.

Follow Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018 here –

Video of the day –