Rajasthan Royals, Kings Of The Indian Premier League?

The eighth edition of Indian Premier League is underway and we have already witnessed some great performances from young 'unknown' cricketers.

They have certainly caught the attention of followers of the game and will be hoping that it can impress the selectors when they meet to select the team for the Bangladesh tour in June.

As is evident from all previous editions of the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team and start favourites most years. The secret of their success is always the Midas touch of its skipper MS Dhoni and the firepower of domestic performers.

But there is a team in Indian Premier League who gives us the true definition of this cash-rich tournament.

The league started in 2008 with the intention of giving unknown faces the chance to play with and against the greatest players in the modern era. It also gave them exposure and the opportunity to show their talent to the world, helping them gain the confidence to perform in front of packed crowds.

The league is gaining more popularity season after season and now everything rides on winning the tournament and the main aim of the tournament has been lost somewhere.

Deepak Hooda of Rajasthan Royals has been sensational in the few games that he has played in this season. Now he is under the scanner of all IPL fans.

This is not the first time that an unknown talent has emerged from the Royals camp. Their decision to pick 41-year-old Pravin Tambe has proved to be a masterstroke.

Tambe had not even played any first-class cricket before playing for the Rajasthan Royals. After a successful IPL season and a Champions League campaign with the Royals he went on to make his first-class debut for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.

The 20-year-old Sanju Samson is another talented wicket-keeper-batsman who was trusted by the Royals and he has delivered for them. This guy is immensely talented in handling tense situations and never afraid to play his shots even against the likes of Dale Steyn.

He was also selected in the national team for the Twenty20 international on the tour of England but did not get the chance to play the game.

Who can forget the inaugural edition of Indian Premier League where Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan helped the Royals - who were underdogs from the start - to lift the trophy? Both these players were not well known at the international arena.

Yes, Watson had played for Australia and we were aware of his name but we never knew that he could be such an impact player. Pathan also became a hero for the Royals and his ability to clear the fence with ease made him a star player for India.

Steve Smith played for the Royals as a specialist batsman when the world knew him as a bits and piece cricketer. Now he is rated as one of the most talented players in the world and has nailed down a permanent spot in the Australian Test and One-Day International team.

Ajinkya Rahane, one of the most talented young batsman India have, was also spotted by the Royals. He had played years of first-class cricket before but was still not considered good for international cricket.

After his signing by the Royals, he was consistently getting the opportunity to open along with Rahul Dravid. It made him mature as a cricketer and got him selected for the national team. He was the most successful batsman in the recent India’s overseas tours.

And many more young talents were spotted by the Rajasthan Royals such as Kamran Khan, Dishant Yagnik and Ashok Maneria.

For me, it shows the Rajasthan Royals is the only team which defines the real meaning of the IPL and they should be called the IPL kings.

© Cricket World 2015