Rajasthan Royals (RR) welcomed their stalwart Steve Smith for the new season of IPL. Smith joined the franchise ahead of the tournament and looks set to 'Halla Bol'. He was forced to sit out of the last season after being banned by Cricket Australia for plotting ball tampering.

Smith will play in front of the home crowd in Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur as a Rajasthan Royals player for the first time. He is looking forward to his debut here.

"It will be great - never got the chance to play in Jaipur with the Royals.. I am sure the fans will come out in big numbers and support us," Smith said.

Smith has led the IPL team in the past. He was handed over the captaincy from MS Dhoni while playing for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. The Aussie cricketer led the team to IPL final and there they lost the final by just one run to Mumbai Indians.