IPL 2018 (Team Profile): Sans Smith, Rahane-led Royals aim to return with a bang

New Delhi, April 5 (CRICKETNMORE) - Back after serving a two-year ban due to a spot-fixing scandal, inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Rajasthan Royals will definitely miss the star power of beleaguered former Australian captain Steve Smith but will look to Ajinkya Rahane for inspiration and hope their good-looking squad can deliver in the upcoming edition starting on Saturday.

Rahane was named the skipper of the Jaipur-based franchise after Smith was removed in the wake of the ball-tampering incident under his leadership in Australia's Cape Town Test against South Africa.

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"The game is bigger than any individual and we hold this thought close to our heart," Manoj Badale, the co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, had said while announcing the news.

Regarded as one of the best batsmen around, Smith would have no doubt been Rajastan's mainstay at the top of the order, and it came as no surprise when they chose to only retain the 28-year-old Australian from their previous squad.

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