Shane Warne and Rajasthan Royals: It was always discipline first

Warne, who passed away on Friday, had many feathers in his cap, including the one that underscores his vibrant and strong connection with the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.

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When the Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched in 2008, nobody expected a semi-retired 37-year-old Shane Warne to lead a Rajasthan Royals side built on a shoestring budget to win one of the most lucrative tournaments in the world.

The flamboyant Aussie's magical prowess as the captain saw the underdogs Royals win the inaugural edition of the T20 league in 2008 and that remains one of the most iconic memories of the IPL.

While the leg-spinner led the Jaipur-based franchise for four years, his association with the team continued till 2020 when he was reappointed by the Royals as their mentor and brand ambassador for the season. When it came to cricket, he was unapologetically obsessed with discipline, say players who have worked under him. "He placed discipline on top of everything. Outside the competitive arena of cricket he was a very jovial and fun-loving character, but when it came to cricket, he never compromised on anything. He had set the standards very high and this is the reason why a team which was full of youngsters won the first edition of the IPL. No one thought we could win. He was a legend in every sense of the word. He will be missed," said former Rajasthan captain Pankaj Singh, who was a part of the title-winning Royals team.

The Aussie great injected the culture of discipline and to ensure everyone toed the line, he introduced a unique way of punishing those who failed to adhere to the rules. Players were made to hold a pink doll, literally