Jaipur, May 1: "Do they even need Shane Warne on the field?" was the question on everyone’s lips as Rajasthan Royals scripted yet another dream win, steamrolling Kolkata Knight Riders by 45 runs at the Sawai Man Stadium here on Thursday.

The youngsters — deemed an average lot by pacer Munaf Patel at one stage — left nothing to chance and put everything their coach and skipper Shane Warne had taught them in the last few weeks to use very effectively.

It was the fourth straight win for the Royals in the tournament. The fact that Warne (2-0-21-1) bowled just half his quota was a clear indication of how quickly the unknown names of Indian cricket are climbing the ladder.

Siddharth Trivedi was a revelation with his 2/31, Swapnil Asnodkar stood out with a solid knock of 60, Yusuf Pathan with his quickfire 55 and Ravindra Jadeja’s hitting in the slog overs. It was hard to pick the best of the lot.

And all this while, Warne kept himself away from the limelight watching his team rise to the occasion. The legspinner brought himself on only in the 12th over, much after the damage had been done by Sohail Tanvir and Trivedi.

Set to chase 197, the writing was on the wall for Sourav Ganguly and Co., who were reduced to 51/3 by the end of six overs. Pakistan opener Salman Butt (7), promoted pinch-hitter Ajit Agarkar (20) at one-down and Australian Brad Hodge (1), who replaced countrymate Ricky Ponting, were done in by some sharp bowling.

Ganguly (51, 39b, 4x4, 2x6) was the lone bright spark for Knight Riders with his well-paced effort. The southpaw, who ran out of partners very quickly, had quite an eventful innings.

Slow to start with, the Kolkatan raced to 50 in 37 balls, but that was not without hiccups. Caught Lagaan style when on 30, Ganguly was lucky when Yusuf Pathan stepped on the ropes after taking a clean catch. Later, Graeme Smith pulled off a gem of a catch inches above the ground evoking huge celebrations in the stands. Ganguly though stood his ground and asked for a replay. He was given the benefit of the doubt but became Warne’s victim in the very next over, holing to Mohammed Kaif.

David Hussey tried to stabilise the flaggering fortunes of Knight Riders, but it was too late by then. It was a nightmarish finish for the Knight Riders who succumbed meekly in the end. They lost their last five wickets, including that of Hussey, for a mere 8 runs.

Earlier, it was the charge of the young brigade that set things on fire. Asnodkar and Pathan set up things nicely as Rajasthan put up a competitive 196/7 on the board. The early setback in the form of Smith — sent packing by IPL debutant Umar Gul in the second over — did not deter Rajasthan’s spirits.

Asnodkar (34b, 10x4, 1x6) and Pathan then threw caution to the winds and played at will. Agarkar was punished harshly, Asnodkar hitting him for three successive boundaries in the 9th over.

Ganguly introduced Hussey in the next over, who was meted similar treatment. Next up was the skipper himself hoping to silence the young gun, but Asnodkar — from teh unfancied cricketing backwater of Goa — paid no respect to reputations. The duo stitched together a valuable 50 off 24 balls for the third wicket. Jadeja joined the party after Asnodkar’s departure. He accelerated the scoring rate and put up 28 runs off 22 for the fifth wicket along with Pathan (55, 33b, 6x4, 2x6).