With two home victories under its belt, Rajasthan Royals will aim for consistency in the upcoming away matches in IPL-V, starting with a night game against Mumbai Indians at the imposing Wankhede stadium here.

The 2008 champion has been less flamboyant after Shane Warne walked into the sunset, but is still looking like a sparkling unit. New captain Rahul Dravid has been quietly driving home the point, and giving the youngsters the space to explore within the framework of consistency. Ajinkya Rahane, left-arm spinner Ankit Chavan, Ashok Menaria and medium-pacer Amit Singh have picked up the cue, linking hands to pull the team over the line.

Shane Warne displayed a knack of getting the best out of his players by using a touch of flamboyance. For Dravid, winning remains the only objective. “Warne was instinctive, always ready for a surprise. You would never know what to expect,” said Mumbai Ranji opener Rahane, for whom this match will be a homecoming of sorts. “Dravid keeps things very simple.”

A change in captaincy has not diverted Royals from banking on teamwork and focus on local talent. Rahane's response to a query about missing a coveted T20 ton by two runs against Kings XI Punjab (98 off 66 balls), says it all. “The two runs were gettable had I faced a few more balls. The intention was to help my team win; there is no joy in a century if the team loses.
Respected rival

“Mumbai Indians is a rival worth respecting,” says Rahane. “T20 is a format where anything can happen, so having started off well, we want to be consistent because you never know when fortunes will turn.” Left-arm spinner Chavan is another home product from age-group cricket in Mumbai. He delivered a fine performance in the previous game with two for 23 in four overs. On a turner at the Wankhede, he can be a match-winner.

Both may retain their places for Wednesday's game, though Rahane did not hazard a guess. “There is no reason to think that I will play every match.” His orthodox strokeplay stands out in T20s, where strike-rate is a much-valued commodity among batsmen.

Sachin doubtful

Home team captain Sachin Tendulkar is doubtful, but considering the options available regarding team selection, his absence won't be missed. Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard haven't fired so far in IPL-V, and after the embarrassing defeat against Pune Warriors India, both will be hoping to turn things around under the floodlights.