IPL 8: Rajasthan's royal form continues

New Delhi: Winners of the maiden edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals, are in imperious form in the on-going season after winning their first five matches on the bounce.

This season they have emerged as a fearless team that is firing on all cylinders from the very start. A well balanced outfit, Rajasthan, are playing the same brand of cricket, which we saw from Kings XI Punjab during the last edition.

They have played five matches thus far and are yet to lose one. Even after losing their skipper Shane Watson in the first four matches, RR played as a unit under stand-in skipper Steven Smith.

In fact, when Watto returned in the match against KXIP, he led the side from the front by playing a match-winning knock of 73.

After the first 17 matches of the league, RR opener Rahane is holding the orange cap for being the leading run scorer. So far RR have beaten KXIP, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and are yet to play RCB and KKR.

RR has had strong performances in the batting and bowling departments.

However, the two players who have played a crucial role so far with the ball are underrated bowlers – Dhawal Kulkarni and ageing leg-spinner Pravin Tambe.

If Kulkarni has created pressure on the batsmen by not offering much room with the new ball, then, leggie has provided the team much needed breakthroughs at crucial junctures in matches.

If start is anything to go by, RR would certainly finish among the top four this season.