Playing their first match after the spot-fixing scandal that saw three of their players banned, Rajasthan Royals showed no signs of nerves and were focus personified against Mumbai Indians in the Champions League 20 here on Saturday.
“We have moved on,” asserted skipper Rahul Dravid after the team’s convincing win over Mumbai. “We have put that (the spot-fixing controversy) behind. There is no hangover. The entire bunch spoke about it when we got here in Jaipur. We reflected on it and acknowledged that it has happened.
“But we have to put up a good show for ourselves and our fans. And we are up for it.”
Rajasthan’s seven-wicket win was once again built around their young bunch, who all put their hand up — and more importantly, delivered.
“That is the brand of cricket we play, where everybody chips in with the best they can. We like to surprise our opponents with changes in combinations and that is how we are identified now. As long as it gets us results, we are happy with it.
“Young Sanju (Samson) stepped up today and so did Vikramjeet Malik. On some days, Watson wins us games all on his own, while there are Menaria, Cooper and Faulkner and others who deliver together as a team,” he said.
On his role as a skipper with a young team and how he went about doing the job, Dravid said, “It is not only me, it’s both my coach and myself.
“I believe in giving freedom to the players. They are freed to express themselves as they want. They are asked to initiate and take chances and we have told them that none of them would be blamed. It’s a team game and we take collective responsibility for everything.
“That is the environment we try and create.”
Wright rues defeat
Mumbai coach John Wright conceded that the loss in the opening game was a “jolt” and that it would require quite an effort to win the three next games from here on.
“We were some 20 runs short on the board and needed more effort from the batting unit. We know exactly where we stand and will need to win the next three matches to get into the semis,” said Wright.
“We have some tough matches coming up.”