IPL: Rajasthan Royals's first ever IPL XI- Where are they now?

Rajasthan Royals are one of the inconsistent teams in the IPL. Despite winning the IPL Trophy in the inaugural edition, Rajasthan Royals have qualified for the playoffs only once in IPL 2013, after winning the inaugural edition of IPL.

This year in IPL 2018, Rajasthan Royals will return to IPL after being suspended for two years by BCCI in 2015, due to 3 of their players and a team owner being involved in spot-fixing.

Before the start of inaugural edition of IPL, Rajasthan Royals were considered as the weakest team in IPL 2008 by many cricket pundits and fans, as they did not have any big names in their playing line up apart from Shane Warne.

But Rajasthan Royals stunned everyone by winning the inaugural edition of IPL by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the finals, on the back of excellent leadership skills of Shane Warne, along with crucial performances from foreign contingent and local Indian talent.

Rajasthan Royals played their maiden IPL match against Delhi Daredevils on 19 April 2008, and lost the match by 9 wickets.

Currently, only three players who took the field for Rajasthan Royals in their maiden IPL match against Delhi Daredevils are now playing IPL but not for Rajasthan Royals.

So let us have a look at the playing XI of Rajasthan Royals that took the field in their maiden IPL encounter:

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#1 Taruwar Kohli

Taruwar Kohli left)

Punjab lad Taruwar Kohli, was an important member of Indian U-19 World Cup Squad that won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2008 under Virat Kohli, but Taruwar failed to graduate to the Indian Senior Cricket Team.

Taruwar Kohli opened the innings for Rajasthan Royals in their maiden IPL match, along with Yusuf Pathan. Taruwar Kohli did not have a good opening match for Rajasthan Royals as he scored just 7 runs of 12 balls, and was dismissed by Australian legend Glenn McGrath.

In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Taruwar Kohli also played for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2009, and played his IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders in the same IPL 2009.

Currently, Taruwar Kohli plays for Punjab in the domestic circuit.

#2 Yusuf Pathan

Inaugural edition of the IPL saw the rise of Yusuf Pathan as the powerful and dangerous hitter of the cricket ball who could change the course of the match in just few overs. In Rajasthan Royals maiden IPL match, Yusuf Pathan scored just 10 runs of 5 balls and was run out by Mithun Manhas.

Yusuf Pathan had an excellent IPL 2008, and scored 435 runs in 8 matches with the bat at an excellent strike rate of 179.01, and smashed 25 sixes in the tournament. Yusuf Pathan was also man of the match in IPL 2008 final, for his all-round performance.

Yusuf Pathan made his debut for Indian team in the finals of inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 against arch-rivals Pakistan. Despite being a game changer, Pathan's inconsistency with the bat meant that he failed to establish himself as a regular member of Indian Team, and last played for India in March 2012.

In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Yusuf Pathan was an integral member of Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011 to 2017 and is won of the few players to win 3 IPL Trophies.

This year Yusuf will play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018, as they bought him in the recently concluded IPL Auctions.

#3 Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder, Shane Watson was one of the main reasons behind Rajasthan Royals winning the inaugural edition of IPL. Watson had an excellent IPL 2008, as he scored 472 runs with the bat in 15 matches at an average of 47.2, along with a superb strike rate of 151.76, and picked up 17 wickets, thereby winning man of the tournament award in IPL 2008.

In Rajasthan Royals maiden IPL match, Watson scored 21 runs of 15 balls and was run out by Shikhar Dhawan, and was the only Rajasthan bowler to pick up a wicket when he dismissed Virender Sehwag for 12 runs.

Watson made his debut for Australia in March 2002 against South Africa, but only become a regular member for Australian Team after his exploits in IPL 2008. Watson finally retired from international cricket in February 2016, and was also the last player to retire from Australia's golden era of early 2000s.

In IPL, Watson played for Rajasthan Royals from 2008-2014, even captaining Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2014. After the suspension of Rajasthan Royals, Watson played for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2015 to 2017, and will now turn out for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018.

#4 Mohammad Kaif

Former Indian batsman, Mohammad Kaif was the most expensive player bought by the Rajasthan Royals in IPL Auctions. Kaif did not have a good IPL 2008, as he could score only 176 runs in 16 matches at a poor average of 16. In Rajasthan Royals first ever IPL match, Kaif did not have a good match, as he scored just 9 runs from 19 balls.

Kaif shot into prominence for the first time, when India won its first ICC U-19 World Cup in 2000 under his captaincy. But the match that made Kaif a hero among the Indian fans was the 2002 Natwest Series final against England, when Kaif's knock of 87 runs in just 75 balls helped India chase down the difficult target of 326, after being in a spot of bother at 146 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Kaif played for Indian team from 2000-2006, and was an integral member of the Indian Team that reached the finals of ICC World Cup in 2003 under the captaincy of Saurav Ganguly, and was considered to be one of the best fielders in Indian team during that time. In late 2006, Kaif was dropped from the Indian ODI team and Test team due to poor form and was never called back again, there by playing his last game for India in November 2006 against South Africa.

Kaif also tried his hands at politics, when he joined Indian National Congress and contested for the seat of Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh at 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, but lost it to BJP. In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Kaif also played for Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and was also the assistant coach of Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017.

Recently, Kaif was in the race to be named as the head coach of Afghanistan Cricket Team, but lost out to Lalchand Rajput and is currently playing for Chhattisgarh in the domestic circuit.

#5 Darren Lehmann

Former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann, did not have a good match for Rajasthan Royals in their maiden IPL match, as he was dismissed for just 1 run by Farveez Maharoof.

Darren Lehmann played for Australia from 1996-2005, and was a part of Australian team that won the ICC World Cups in 1999 and 2003. In IPL apart from playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2008, Lehmann was the coach of Deccan Chargers from 2009-2013 and Kings XI Punjab in 2014.

Currently, Lehmann is the coach of Australian Cricket Team since June 2013.

#6 Ravindra Jadeja

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, was the top scorer for Rajasthan Royals in their maiden IPL match and scored 29 runs of 23 balls by hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes. Ravindra Jadeja was one of the major architects in Rajasthan Royals winning campaign at IPL 2008, with his all round performances and scored 135 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of 131.06, and was called by Rajasthan Royals Captain Shane Warne as the next "superstar in the making".

Ravindra Jadeja was also an important member of Indian U-19 World Cup Squad that won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2008 under Virat Kohli, where he finished as the joint highest wicket taker for India with 10 wickets from 6 matches.

On the back of strong performances for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2008, and for Saurashtra in the domestic circuit, Jadeja made his debut for Indian Team in February 2009 in a one-day game against Sri Lanka and scored 60 runs in a losing cause. In 2012, Jadeja made his Test debut in the fourth match against England at Nagpur, as a reward for scoring 3 triple hundreds in 2012-2013 season of Ranji Trophy.

From 2009-2013, Jadeja was in and out, of the Indian team, before his breakthrough performance with both bat and ball in ICC Champions Trophy 2013, where he was the man of the match in the final against England made him an important member of Indian Cricket team. But recently in July 2017, Jadeja lost his place in Indian ODI and T20 team due to poor form, but is still an important member of Indian Test Team.

In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Jadeja also played for now defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions when Chennai Super Kings were suspended for two years. In IPL 2018, Jadeja will turn out for Chennai Super Kings with whom he has been part of since IPL 2012.

#7 Mahesh Rawat (WK)

Railways wicket-keeper, Mahesh Rawat kept the wickets for Rajasthan Royals in their maiden IPL match, and scored just 2 runs of 4 balls before being dismissed by Rajat Bhatia.

Mahesh Rawat made his first-class debut at the age of 18 for Haryana during the 2003-04 season of Ranji Trophy and impressed everyone with his consistent performances early on during his career. But the presence of MS Dhoni in Indian team meant that Rawat was unable break it into the Indian National team despite consistent performances in the domestic circuit.

In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Rawat also played for now defunct Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013, and is currently playing for Railways in the domestic circuit.

#8 Dinesh Salunkhe

Number 8 batsman Dinesh Salunkhe, resurrected the Rajasthan innings in their first ever IPL match by scoring unbeaten 26 runs of just 20 balls by hitting 4 fours, there by helping Rajasthan Royals recover from a precious situation of 71/6 to post a modest total of 129/8.

Dinesh Salunkhe is one of the rare cricketers to have never played first class cricket as to this date, all of Dinesh Salunkhe's professional cricket appearances have been in T20 cricket.

In IPL, Dinesh Salunkhe played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2008 and was dropped from Rajasthan Royals franchise in IPL 2009, there by playing his last IPL match against Kings XI Punjab in May 2008.

Currently, Dinesh Salunkhe plays for North Mumbai Panthers T20 Mumbai League.

#9 Shane Warne (C)

Australian legend, Shane Warne led the underdogs Rajasthan Royals to their only IPL trophy in the inaugural edition of IPL, with his charismatic captaincy and leadership skills. In Rajasthan Royals maiden IPL match, Shane Warne did not have a good match and scored 14 runs of 13 balls with the bat and conceded 16 runs in his 2 overs with the bowl. But overall, Warne had a fairly good IPL 2008 as he picked up 18 wickets from 15 matches.

Shane Warne played for Australia from 1992 to 2007 and retired from international cricket as the second highest wicket taker in Test format with 708 wickets along with 293 wickets in ODI format. Also in 2000, Warne was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century and is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers ever in the history of international cricket.

In IPL, Shane Warne was Captain and coach of Rajasthan Royals from 2008-2011 and retired from IPL cricket at the end of IPL 2011. Currently, Warne is preparing to come back in the IPL as a mentor of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018.

#10 Siddarth Trivedi

Former Gujarat pacer, Siddarth Trivedi was often the go-to bowler for Shane Warne in death overs. In Rajasthan Royals maiden IPL match, Trivedi was expensive with the ball and conceded 32 runs in 3 overs.

Trivedi also played for India at the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2002, and soon made his first-class debut in 2002 for Saurashtra. Apart from Saurashtra, Trivedi also played for Gujarat in the domestic circuit.

In IPL, Trivedi played for Rajasthan Royals from 2008 to 2013, but was banned for one year by BCCI as he failed to report that bookies approached him in IPL 2013, and has not played IPL since then. Currently, Trivedi plays for Saurashtra in the domestic circuit.

#11 Munaf Patel

When Munaf Patel burst onto the scene in 2003, he was considered to be the quickest Indian bowler at that and was sent to MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, to improve his bowling craft under legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.

Very soon Munaf made his Indian debut for Indian team in a test match against England in March 2006 and impressed everyone with his raw pace and had the best bowling figures by an Indian fast bowler in the first innings of a Test match on debut with 7/97. Overall Munaf picked up 11 wickets in his debut Test which is a record for most numbers of wickets picked up by Indian fast bowler on debut.

Sadly, Munaf could not leave up to the lofty standards he created in 2006 and lost his pace and place in Indian team due to injuries, and last played for India in September 2011. In IPL apart from Rajasthan Royals, Munaf Patel also played for Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions and was unsold in the recently concluded IPL Auctions 2018.

In the domestic circuit, Munaf played for Mumbai, Maharashtra and Baroda. He played his last domestic match in February 2017.