After a dream start to the IPL in 2008, inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals weren’t lucky enough to experience the triumph the following seasons. The Jaipur franchise have not even made it to an IPL final since lifting the trophy in its first season. Last year, the Royals finished at the bottom of the pile with 12 points from 14 matches, winning just six matches.Following a disappointing year, there was a change in guard, with last year's captain Steve Smith released from the squad ahead of the IPL 2021 auction. At the event, RR acquired eight new recruits in Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, KC Cariappa, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh. There was a change in guard, with RR naming Sanju Samson as their captain, while Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara joined the franchise as its director of cricket. Rajasthan franchise on its Twitter shared the video of Kumar Sangakkara interacting with the team for the first time. Sangakkara was seen laying some 'non-negotiable' ground rules for the players before they come to train for the IPL 2021.
"The one thing we can really control is our attitude. So, when we come into training everyone must come with a great attitude. You might be feeling down, you might have things that you are thinking about. But if you need support come and talk to us. But when you are here, every little thing we do, we do it with a great attitude. That's non-negotiable. "Apart from the ground rules, Kumar Sangakkara also suggested the players to come for training with a purpose and told them how can achieve that purpose. "The other thing is you must come here with a purpose. And that purpose would be different for everyone. So you need to talk to us and the staff about what you need as a player and that's very important so that we can have you training to answer you those questions that you have in your mind, to fit your role, what you think you need to work on." "The other thing is when you come with a purpose, you raise your intensity at training because here every single thing you do whether a ball you bowl or a ball you hit or a ball you field it's got be an intensity where you are trying to recreate what you feel in a match. It won't be hundred percent there, but if you challenge yourself you can get to a level where every single practice you come up with a purpose and you walk out having achieved that purpose." Sangakkara plans on bringing a fresh culture into the team and change the mindset of players after the debacle of last season, the former Sri Lanka batsman said he would keep things simple. We learn from our mistakes and move on, but we don’t take a backward step. That conversation, that trust has to be built very quickly this season and it something we won’t compromise on." Sanju Samson-led side will take on KL Rahul and his Punjab team in their opening match of the IPL 2021 on April 12 at the Wankhede in Mumbai. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
