Nicknames help breed familiarity and the adage has worked perfectly for the Rajasthan Royals, which has managed to get players of different nationalities gel together by simply giving them funky names in the dressing room.

Shane Warne’s men, whom he also coaches, were dismissed as mere underdogs at the start of the Indian Premier League but as the tournament enters its second phase, the Royals have emerged serious contenders for at least reaching the semifinals.

And their success mantra has been sticking together as a team by overcoming the differences in their nationalities and cultures, a task made easier by having friendly nicknames, which specify every player’s role in the side.