Shane Warne to mentor Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018

Veteran cricketer and Australian legend, Shane Warne is all set to make a comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former leg-spinner has been appointed as the mentor for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming edition of the cricketing extravaganza.

“Rajasthan Royals holds a very special place in my cricketing journey. I am overwhelmed by the love and affection showered on me by the franchise and fans of Rajasthan Royals,” Warne said in a press release issued by the Rajasthan Royals franchise.

Rajasthan Royals co-owner Manoj Badale said that bringing back Shane Warne is also a way of giving back to the franchise’s fans who stood by it during the trying times.

Warne who was visibly excited on his association with the Royals said, “I’ll be joining the Rajasthan Royals in IPL in season 2018 as team mentor. I’m very thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been given to be the team mentor for the Royals. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Shane Warne led the Rajasthan franchise to glory in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. Entering the tournament as the “underdogs”, Warne had inspired a young team to put up a spirited show at and lift the trophy by beating some strong oppositions. In fact, the Aussie was also instrumental in identifying the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan. Warne played his last game for the franchise in 2011 before calling it quits.

Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018

Coming back after a gap of two years, Rajasthan Royals certainly seems to have ticked the right boxes in the recently concluded player auction. While the international attractions of Steven Smith, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer look to set the stage on fire with their flamboyance, the Indian stars such as Ajinkya Rahane, Jaydev Unadkat, and Sanju Samson will be itching to bring their best game to the fore.