Rajasthan Royals accused of match-fixing once again, 7 years after serving a two-year ban

Rajasthan Royals had already missed two years in the IPL back in 2016 and 2017 due to similar charges.

Rajasthan Royals accused of match-fixing once again, 7 years after serving a two-year ban

Rajasthan Royals have once again been accused of fixing matches, following recent LSG defeat. (via Deccan Herald)

2008 Indian Premier League winners Rajasthan Royals have once again found themselves at the center of controversy, over allegations of match-fixing. Rajasthan Cricket Association’s ad-hoc committee convener Jaideep Bihani alleged that the team was involved in foul play, in a match this season. 

The Men in Pink, who have struggled this season, are facing allegations of match-fixing in their shocking two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, on 19 April 2025. Batting first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, LSG posted a competitive first innings total of 180 runs in their 20 overs, guided by Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni’s fifties and Abdul Samad’s quick-fire knock of 30 runs off just 10 balls.

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Chasing the 181-run target, RR, who were already missing out on the services of skipper Sanju Samson, lost the match by a margin of two runs. The home side failed to win the match, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi having already guided the team close to the finish line. In a brilliant show of death bowling, LSG’s Avesh Khan defended nine runs in the final over of the match. 

RR’s humiliating defeat coupled with their batting and bowling struggles this season, did not go down well with many, including RCA convener Jaideep Bihani. The politician-turned cricket administrator claimed that even a kid would confidently say that the match between RR and LSG was fixed. Bihani even went on to slam the franchise’s owners for not letting the RCA be a part of the team management.

Bihani added that the RCA was sidelined from hosting RR’s matches at the Sawai Mansingh citing the lack of an NOC, with the matches being handed by the Sports Council instead. He even referenced the team’s chequered past in the IPL, after RR players were caught spot-fixing back in 2013. The BJP politician even urged the BCCI to to investigate the matter, and take stock of the situation. 

As soon as the time for hosting IPL came, the Sports Council took control of it. The excuse given by Sports Council and RR was that we don’t have an MOU from Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

RCA’s Jaideep Bihani on Rajasthan Royals (H/T India Today)

Three RR players, S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested in 2013 on charges of spot-fixing. They were however, acquitted in 2016 by the Patiala High Court. Following which, former Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra was also charged with betting in the IPL, which led to the team being banned for two seasons along with Chennai Super Kings, between 2016-17.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the team, when they next face in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RR’s chances of making it to the play-offs remain thin, with the team having won just two out of their eight matches this season. 

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson to miss team’s next game against RCB due to injury

Rajasthan Royals will be without their star player and regular captain Sanju Samson, for the team’s upcoming IPL encounter against RCB, on 24 April 2025. It will be the second successive match that Samson will miss out, due to an abdominal injury that he suffered against DC last week. 

Rajasthan Royals Sanju Samson
Rajasthan Royals will be without captain Sanju Samson due to an abdomen injury. (via Cricbuzz)

Against DC, Samson, after scoring 31 runs off 19 balls, had to retire out due to pain in his ribs. He is undergoing recovery and is expected to remain in Jaipur, while the team travels to Bengaluru. In the 30-year-old’s absence, Riyan Parag is set to continue as the stand-in skipper. The young all-rounder had even captained the side in RR’s first three matches, while Samson was recovering from a finger injury. 

Meanwhile, the veteran opener will be replaced by the 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the RR starting XI. Suryavanshi enjoyed a brilliant debut against Lucknow Super Giants, scoring a blistering knock of 34 runs off just 20 balls, with his innings consisting of two fours and three sixes.