IPL 2018: Royals focus on team rebuilding on IPL return

IPL 11 starts April 7.

RR won the very first IPL title in 2008. (Sports Rediscovered)

Rajasthan Royals will be making a comeback in the IPL fold after serving the ban for two years.  On a new season, Royals co-owner Manoj Badale is focussing on rebuilding the team and deny on giving up the stake of the team in any stretch of their imagination. 

"It's a little bit like 2008 once again," Badale told ET, referring to the launch year of IPL. "There are aspects of what we have to do this year which are more akin to a startup rather than an established business. But I have been positively amazed and surprised on how a strong connection we have with our fans and how patient they have been. For that, we are grateful to our fans." 

At the recently concluded players' auction, RR, the team, which historically remained the most conservative spender, batted boldly on the front foot, spending Rs 65.85 crore of the purse on some of the most expensive players — Ben Stokes (Rs 12.5 crore), Jaydev Unadkat (Rs 11.5 crore) and Sanju Samson (Rs 8 crore). 

"We decided this year to spend pretty much our full salary cap, which was afforded by the fact that economics of the franchisee changed because of the TV deal," Badale said. 

Rajasthan who retained only Steve Smith renewed the entire squad by bringing utility players and are eying to relive 2008, the very first year of the IPL when they won the title. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 01 Feb, 2018

    Share Via