New Delhi:
Ever since the start of the Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals have donned the blue jersey. However, all this is going to change in the 2019 edition of the tournament. The franchise is all set to don the pink jersey and it is fitting in a way that the Rajasthan-based franchise is donning a colour that is symbolic of the state. Jaipur is called the Pink City, Jodhpur is famous for pink sandstone and Udaipur produces pink marble. Speaking about this development, Rajasthan Royals lead owner Manoj Badale said, “We are extremely happy to announce our official colour as ‘PINK’. This is an exciting change for us and comes as a response to the fantastic reaction from the fans to our training kit and cancer out jersey last year, as well as of course Jaipur being the Pink city!”
Rajasthan Royals will not be the first cricketing team to don a pink jersey for the entire tournament. Sydney Sixers wear an electric pink jersey during the Big Bash League while South Africa wears the pink jersey during the Johannesburg ODI in order to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and treatment. In the 2018 edition, Rajasthan Royals wore a pink and blue jersey in May during the clash against Chennai Super Kings in order to raise awareness for early cancer screening.
In addition to the jersey change, there is one more change and it is related to Shane Warne, the former Australia legspinner who led the franchise to their maiden title in the 2008 edition of the tournament. Warne, who has taken 708 wickets in 145 wickets, came back to the Rajasthan Royals as mentor for the 2018 edition of the tournament and in 2019, he has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the franchise.
Speaking on his appointment, Warne heaped praise on the pink look of the team. “It was important for us to retain our established values but at the same time develop a new and modern identity. I am already in love with the new look of the team and hope the fans will love it too,” Warne said.
Rajasthan Royals entered the knock-out stages of the tournament in the previous season and they will be aiming to make amends in 2019 as they look to win a title after 11 years. The team made some interesting purchases in the auction, paying Rs 8.4 crore to Jaydev Unadkat and getting some exciting talent in England batsman Liam Livingstone and Indian talent Manan Vohra.
