In a touching tribute to one of the IPL’s most iconic figures, Jackson Warne, son of the late Shane Warne, recently visited Jaipur and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Rajasthan Royals for naming a gallery after his father at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The Shane Warne Gallery stands as a permanent reminder of the Aussie legend’s indelible contribution to the franchise and Indian cricket.
This gesture, initiated after Warne’s tragic passing in 2022, holds immense emotional significance for the Warne family and fans alike. Shane Warne, the master leg-spinner and inspirational leader, famously captained a young, underrated Rajasthan Royals side to victory in the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
Defying expectations, his tactical brilliance saw the Royals clinch the title with a memorable win over the Chennai Super Kings in the final. Warne continued to lead the franchise until 2011 and later served in various mentorship roles, becoming a guiding force both on and off the field.
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During a special interaction hosted by the Royals and shared via their official Instagram page, Jackson spoke about the emotional experience of seeing his father’s name on his match ticket. “It was cool sort of looking at our tickets and it saying Shane Warne Gallery on the ticket. Very special for me,” Jackson told the Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour. “Nice to meet you and thank you for having me, feels good to be here.”
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Jackson’s visit was his first to India in 15 years, marking a return to the venue where his father last played in IPL 2011. “Feels special being back here. I haven’t been here since the 2011 season when it was Dad’s last year,” he recalled. Rathour warmly welcomed Jackson, reaffirming, “You are family.”
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During his three-day visit, Jackson attended Royals’ matches and spent time with current head coach Rahul Dravid, who succeeded Warne as captain. Warne remains the Royals’ most successful captain, leading the side in 55 matches and picking up 57 wickets along the way—etched forever in IPL history.
