As the seventh season of the Indian Premier League nears, we look back at past champions in the cash rich yet controversial event. In part one, we look at inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals.
Format
The 2008 event was held from April 18 to June 8. The tournament, which featured eight sides, began with a double round robin stage, where each side played the other twice, on a home and away basis. This was followed by the semi-final and the final.
Rajasthan’s Royal run
The Royals had an extremely poor start to their campaign, going down by nine wickets to Delhi Daredevils. In the next game, they overcame Kings XI Punjab by six wickets, chasing down 167 courtesy Shane Watson’s unbeaten 76 from 49 balls. Royals were brilliant against Deccan Chargers as well. Chasing a mammoth 215 to win, Graeme Smith made 71 from 45 while Yusuf Pathan smashed 61 from 28 as Royals won by 3 wickets.
Royals continued their winning run against Royal Challengers Bangalore. After restricting RCB to 135, they chased down the target courtesy Watson’s unbeaten 61 from 41. Rajasthan went on to beat KKR in their next encounter by 45 runs, Swapnil Asnodkar leading the charge with his 60. Royals then steamrolled Chennai Super Kings. Tanvir took 6 for 14 as CSK were cleaned up for 109 and won by 8 wickets. Their winning streak came to an end when they lost to Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets.
Rajasthan brought their campaign back on track very soon though. They defeated Deccan Chargers by 8 wickets, Delhi Daredevils by 3 wickets, RCB by 65 runs, KKR by six wickets, Chennai by 10 runs, and Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets, off the last ball. They went on to lose their last league encounter, to Kings XI Punjab by 41 runs, but by that time they had qualified for the semi-finals.
The knockout stage
Rajasthan took on the Daredevils in the first semi-final. Batting first, the Royals put up an impressive 192 on the board – Watson made 52 from 49 while Yusuf Pathan contributed 45 from 21. In reply, Watson and Munaf Patel claimed three wickets each as Royals won by 105 runs. In the final, the Royals faced an inspired Chennai. Royals were made to chase 164 and in a match that went all the way to the wire won off the last ball, by 3 wickets. Yusuf Pathan’s 56 off 39 balls was the major contribution for Rajasthan.
Star performers
Shane Watson scored 472 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 152 with four half-centuries. Watson also claimed 17 wickets averaging 22.5 at a strike rate of 19.
Graeme Smith scored 441 runs in 15 games averaging 49 at a strike rate of 122 with three fifties.
Yusuf Pathan scored 435 runs at a strike rate of 179 with four half- centuries.
Sohail Tanvir was the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets from 11 games at a strike rate of 11.
--By A Cricket Analyst
