There’s a Goan, two Gujaratis, two Punjabis, a Maharashtrian, a Haryanvi and two Muslims. For once, Warnie isn’t spending time during team meetings rattling the Aussie twang or pausing for a more sober version of English with Hampshire colleagues. In fact, if his young team members are to be believed, he’s more interested in learning a thing or two about Hindi. Someone in the team seems to have already updated the celebrated leg-spinner about how the national language remains the common connect for people from different states.

And if you thought Warne’s Hindi has only improved to namaste, here’s an update: Ab tu jaake batting kar (now you go and bat) he was heard telling Ravindra Jadeja during the team’s net session, with such nonchalance that he never turned around to see if anyone took notice.

Master strategist

In IPL, Warne seems to be living a dream — of captaining a side — that never quite saw fruition when he did duty for Australia. Experts have suggested he could’ve been an excellent captain, had he been entrusted with the job. As Australia captain, he could’ve possibly led a side that boasted the likes of Gilchrist, Ponting, Hayden and Symonds. Instead, he’s leading Team Jaipur, showcasing unknown names from various domestic teams. In contrast to a situation where he’d have loved to devise strategies with the world’s best at his disposal, he’s now busy devising strategies on how to make the most of what he’s got.

As captain and coach of the Rajasthan Royals team, Warne’s idea is to develop a stronger working relationship with his team members, based on getting to know them better.

Developing team spirit

In the two previous matches, Warne chose to pick leg-spinner Dinesh Salunkhe. When most thought that the young bowler — an unknown name in the domestic circuit — was selected because he happens to be a former Cricket Star (a reality show run by owners of Rajasthan Royals) runner-up, Warne said he liked what he saw in the nets.

Salunkhe returned the compliment with a 20-ball 26 against Delhi and a two-over spell claiming one wicket against Punjab. “He’s got a good arm and can adapt well to the changing conditions in the game,” Warne said about what he thought of young Salunkhe.

Warne knows he has always been a colourful personality. But what he seems to know better is that it is his cricket, and the years of hard work that he’s put in, that have super-imposed his personal life. “I work very hard,” he emphasises. “As part of my duty here in the IPL, it is also important to inculcate this in the youngsters who are a part of my team.”

The leggie happens to be Rajasthan Royals captain-cum-coach. In Salunkhe, he’s already managed to inject confidence. On Wednesday, when he walked in for the press conference with Jadeja in tow, he kept referring to the young left-arm spinner as a “good talent”. “Not just his bowling, looks like I need his help for Hindi too,” Warnie said later.