SHANE WARNE was a magician with the ball. Off the field too, he remains a charmer. However, when it comes to making an announcement or expressing his views on the game, he doesn't mince words. Just like he did on Sunday morning on Twitter.
The legendary leggie declared,
"Looking forward to making an announcement to you guys this week which I'm very excited about & yes it involves the #IPL2018!,"
While many might speculate his role with the IPL for the forthcoming season, we at TFG are convinced that Warne will eventually end up being the coach-cum-mentor for the Royals. It's just a matter of time before he makes it official.
Remember, in 2015, Warne had already dropped a hint to NDTVsports?
"I miss being part of the IPL. I had made some great friendships. The atmosphere was great and the Indian support was brilliant. It's an amazing tournament and it allows you to share knowledge with different players. Maybe I will be back with the Royals or somebody else in the future."
Furthermore, in 2017, it was also reported that the Rajasthan Royals' think-tank got in touch the great Aussie to mentor the team for the 11th edition of the IPL. While the above lines indicate the inevitable, we highlight a few more reasons as to why the 'Spin King' will oversee proceedings in the Royals' camp.
Emotional connect with RR
From the time Warne skippered the Royals to the title in 2008, he has become emotionally connected to the Rajasthan franchise. In fact, he was also seen as a mentor by several young cricketers. From the players, owners, support staff to the fans, Warne was a hero! Over the years, very few overseas professionals could manage to generate a massive fan following in India, but Warne's success and approach towards the league saw his fanfare and adulation reach new highs in our country. Much like Sachin Tendulkar is to Mumbai and MS Dhoni is to Chennai, Warne too has a similar connect with Rajasthan.
Healthy rapport with RR owners
As mentioned above, the Rajasthan management have already shown intent in absorbing Warne to their support staff. As we have seen in the IPL, the coach/Mentor needs to have a decent rapport with the working committee of the franchise. Otherwise, plans can go completely awry. RR think-tank have always believed in nurturing young talent and Warne too has publicly endorsed similar belief ever since the ball was set rolling in the IPL. Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja and Shane Watson all benefited under the watchful eyes of Warne. Given Warne's man-management skills and his ability to bring the best out from his troops, it all looks very promising.
Steve Smith Factor
Lately, Warne has been heaping plenty of praises on his countryman, Steve Smith. We all know the Aussie star batsman is going to lead the Royals and it is only logical to hire a coach-cum-mentor who has a great relationship with the skipper. For eg: MS Dhoni-Stephen Flemming or Virat Kohli-Daniel Vettori. Both Smith and Warne believe in being aggressive and have the tendency to challenge conventional thinking. Both also share tremendous respect for each other and that will only keep the Royals in good stead.
Fan Base
The Royals are coming back to the IPL after serving a two-year ban. Moreover, there is no clarity on whether they will play their home matches at Jaipur. Given their slightly tainted impression and limited home fan-following, it is imperative for the franchise to rope in someone who is capable of attracting the fans back. Warne's charisma and refreshing attitude will certainly go a long way in re-establishing the fan connect towards the Royals.
Any moment, Warne is going to make it official. While it may be premature to predict the RR's outcome for the forthcoming season, there is no risk in stating that, the 2008 champs have started off their resurrection on a best possible note.