Hollywood [Shane] beats Bollywood

Two day ago, people would have laughed at you for taking an early am flight to go and watch the Rajasthan Royals play. After just one bad game, the Jaipur-based franchise were being touted as wooden-spoon certainties. But is there any such thing as a certainty when Shane Warne's around? Mike Gatting and many others would tell you otherwise.

Twenty20 is a young man's game? Er, no. Twenty20 is made for batsmen? Not when Warne's around. It's easy to forget that he didn't even play a one-day game for Australia in the aftermath of the failed drugs tests in February 2003. A new generation has grown up without being aware of just how good he was in coloured clothes, but for the old farts, the memories came flooding back on a sultry night in the curiously named Pink City.

With the pace bowlers going for plenty, Warne was in action as early as the seventh over, and he showed that he hasn't lost his penchant for the grand entrance. Kumar Sangakkara was tempted by a legbreak that pitched fractionally wide, and the miscued swing was happily pouched by Warne on his follow-through. "I went a little wide of the crease," said Warne after the game. "You have to use these little subtleties."

The subtleties were far too much for James Hopes, victim of a topspinner, and Yuvraj Singh, sweeping too soon at one that was held back, and figures of 3 for 19 didn't flatter Warne one bit. Dinesh Salunkhe, a young legspinner from Mumbai who won a cricket reality show last year, was clearly enthused by playing alongside Warne, and the wicket of Mahela Jayawardene was reward for a couple of overs that hinted at some promise.

After the break, another Shane took over. Given his appalling luck with injuries, Watson didn't even make the original player list when the IPL had its first auction in February. And with most franchises having exhausted funds, Jaipur had to spend just $125,000 to get him in the second round. His hit-the-deck bowling didn't rattle the King's XI too much, but he was as intimidating as the Hulk with bat in hand.

He hits the ball as cleanly as Flintoff and Yuvraj and can propel it similar distances. In a format that favours the crude slogger, he also hit straight. It sent the capacity crowd into raptures, and their joy intensified with Ravindra Jadeja showing off his special talent in the final stages.

A star of India's Under-19 World Cup win, Jadeja played some dazzling shots, with two deflections behind point off Brett Lee rating a mention at the press conference. With Graeme Smith and Younis Khan still to arrive, the Royals certainly don't look like whipping boys anymore. As for those from the Punjab, two straight defeats will send the first frisson of worry up the spines.

Preity Zinta, the actress who's one of the owners of the Mohali-based franchise, may smile and pout on demand for the TV cameras, but for the moment, the big-name signings are all looking off the pace. You certainly wouldn't say that about Warne after a night when Hollywood triumphed over Bollywood.