Dravid happy to have Watson at the start

Shane Watson may open the innings for Rajasthan Royals with Ajinkya Rahane © AFP

Rahul Dravid has said Rajasthan Royals will be bolstered by the presence of Shane Watson, who is expected to join the team in time for the side's second game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 8.

"Watson brings a lot of quality to the team," Dravid told the Times of India. "Last year, we missed him for the first eight or nine games. This time, we are lucky that way. If we can play to our potential, we should be able to do pretty well." He also added that Watson may be promoted to open the innings with Ajinkya Rahane.

Rajasthan had a poor campaign last year, finishing seventh in the points table. Royals coach Paddy Upton was upbeat about the prospects of the squad in the IPL this season. "It is essential to work out a fine balance between team and individual performance," Upton told the Hindu. "Our focus is to play at our level best and deliver top performances throughout the season. We as a team provide space to our players to take their own decisions, judge their performance, and together we all help each other to execute these decisions on field. We try to not only improve the sporting skills in our players, but also help and groom their overall personality."

Rajasthan Royals' fast bowler Shaun Tait, who played in six games last season, picking up six wickets at 25.16, alluded to where they had gone wrong, "We were not up to the mark in the death overs during the previous season. I enjoy bowling at the death but plans work out at times, and some times they don't. I would again enjoy bowling at death.

"We hope for a top-four finish this time. We have worked on a few grey areas like death bowling and have few more options in attack. The likes of James Faulkner would lend us more bowling strength. We have a good relationship and we mix it up well and help each other."

Tait, who possesses plenty of pace but sometimes loses accuracy as a result, acknowledged that he is working on the issue. "I know I was erratic at times, but I have worked on this. My foot was popping out of the bowling crease, but recently I had improved in the Big Bash and Bangladesh Premier league. I plan to bowl a lot straighter and keep things simple."

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