Warne on the wane?

Is Shane Warne the IPL’s luckiest captain this season? Not in terms of matches won – Rajasthan Royals have one win heading into their fifth game on Wednesday – but by occupying once of the four precious overseas slots despite underperforming. He’s taken only one wicket in four games, and his average of 90 is the second worst in the tournament, after his team-mate Shaun Tait’s 101 per wicket. Warne’s economy-rate of 6.92 per over isn’t bad at all, but in two games Rajasthan were defending low totals so teams didn’t need to attack him. He bowled economically in the victory against Kolkata Knight Riders but a team would expect more than 0 for 27 from one of their overseas players.

Figures apart, Warne’s bowling is perhaps at the flattest it’s been. The legbreaks aren’t fizzing out of the hand and ripping off the pitch; the flight, dip and guile that tormented Daryl Cullinan and Englishmen has rarely been on show; and his pace has been slower. Saurabh Tiwary toyed with Warne in the first game and, though his performance against Kolkata was an improvement, Rajasthan need more from their captain than just economy and inspirational Tweets.

Injuries and curious selection have resulted in thin overseas options for Rajasthan though. Graeme Smith and Dimitri Mascarenhas have left, Shane Watson hasn’t arrived, Damien Martyn and Michael Lumb have left the fans cold. And so Warne is among Rajasthan’s best four foreigners. It’s unlikely he’d have made the XI for Bangalore though. Or even for Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata.