Shilpa hopes Rajasthan Royals will impress again

Jaipur:

With third edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League inching closer, Bollywood actor and co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals Shilpa Shetty on Sunday hoped the Shane Warne-led side will re-live the first year's glory of winning the show-piece tournament.

The Rajasthan team, which won the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 tournament in 2008, finished an unimpressive sixth last year when the event was organised in South Africa.

"We finished sixth in the Indian Premier League previous year in South Africa. But we were the champions in the first edition and I wish the team will move up once again when the third edition takes place," Shilpa said.

The tournament is commencing from March 12 and Rajasthan Royals will open their campaign by taking on Mumbai Indians in an away match the next day.

Shilpa, who was here with team's co-owner and husband Raj Kundra, took part in an environmental awareness programme along with all the Rajasthan Royals players, including captain Warne.

Shilpa planted a sapling at the Rajasthan Cricket Academy premises and said: "I remember my mother used to ask me to plant a sapling on each of my birthday. Plantation is more important for Rajasthan as the state faces a tough environment."

"The planet has to be saved and that can be done only by saving the environment. The message should be loud and clear and I would appreciate if the people gathered here also do the same. It is the mother earth which gives you so much and it is our duty to save it," Shilpa said.