Darren Lehmann is coming out of retirement to join the Rajasthan Royals on a short-term deal © Getty Images Enlarge

The Rajasthan Royals have drafted in Darren Lehmann, the former Australian batsman, to fill in for Graeme Smith, who has been called up by the Cape Cobras for the business end of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series, South Africa's domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Smith, the South Africa captain, is out of the Royals' first two matches - against the Delhi Daredevils on April 19 and Kings XI Punjab on the 21st - and will miss the third on April 24th if the Cobras qualify for the final. That will also put him in doubt for the match against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on the 26th.

Lehmann, 38, has been confirmed for the first two games, but it's likely he will stay on if Smith's return is delayed. Lehmann, who was not involved in any of the IPL's player auctions, made his farewell appearance for South Australia during the 2007-08 season, marking the end of a prolific first-class career in which he scored more than 25,000 runs at an average of 57.83.

He will be coached and captained by Shane Warne, his former Australia team-mate, who offered the invitation. "It's all happened so quickly," Lehmann told the Advertiser. "They needed someone as cover for Graeme Smith so I didn't hesitate to put my hand up. It will be good playing in the same side as Warney."