Australian legend Shane Warne is all set for his IPL return as he is named the mentor of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018. He was the man in charge when Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and the former leg-spinner returns to the league as it heads to season 11 this year. Warne earlier wrote a tweet on Sunday “Looking forward to making an announcement to you guys this week which I’m very excited about & yes it involves the #IPL2018!,”. However, the commentator turned cricketer, confirmed the news of joining RR on his official Instagram.
In a press release issued by the Rajasthan Royals franchise, Warne said he was associated with a franchise that was very close to his heart. “Rajasthan Royals holds a very special place in my cricketing journey. I am overwhelmed by the love and affection showered on me by the franchise and fans of Rajasthan Royals,” he said.
Speaking on bringing back Shane Warne, Rajasthan Royals co-owner Manoj Badale said “We welcome back Shane Warne as Rajasthan Royals mentor. He is a legend of the game and what he has achieved in Rajasthan Royals is unmatchable,”
“Bringing back Shane Warne is also a way to giving back to our fans who have stood by us in trying times. As we are looking to build a strong team that can be in contention for the title, we believe Warne is the right person to mentor the Rajasthan Royals. Zubin has also contributed immensely to the growth of the team and we are happy to have both back on board. We are excited and looking forward to a successful comeback.”
The Australian who last appeared in 2011 season of IPL is believed to shape the youngsters like Ravindra Jadeja, Siddharth Trivedi and Kamran Khan who were a part of Royals in the initial days of IPL. His presence in a star studded Rajasthan Royals promises to give equal chance and opportunity to the youngsters.
