Two back-to-back heartbreaks on the field have now snowballed into controversy off it for the Rajasthan Royals.
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The Royals have lost two games on the trot — both from winning positions. Their latest defeat came against Lucknow Super Giants, where they failed to chase down just nine runs in the final over despite having wickets in hand.
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The collapse, combined with internal friction surrounding IPL management in Jaipur, has triggered a wave of speculation and now, a full-blown accusation from within the state cricket setup.
Rajasthan Royals fire back at ‘misleading’ match-fixing claims
On Tuesday, the franchise responded sharply to match-fixing allegations made by RCA ad hoc committee convenor Jaydeep Bihani.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Rajasthan’s Chief Minister, Sports Minister, and Sports Secretary, RR demanded action and called the remarks not just baseless but damaging to the integrity of Indian cricket.
“We categorically deny and strongly object to each and every statement made by the Senior Official of RCA and to the contents of the referenced media reports. These public allegations cause significant reputational damage, fuel unnecessary controversy, and attempt to mislead the public.”
Bihani, who is also a local MLA, alleged that the two-run loss to LSG “looked fixed,” adding that even a child could see something was off. He also criticised RR for not involving the RCA in the IPL’s local operations, citing a lack of transparency.
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The Royals didn’t hold back. They highlighted their 18-year partnership with the state association and clarified that all matches in Jaipur are being hosted in full compliance with BCCI guidelines.
“RMPL has effectively and successfully done this for the last 18 years,” the letter noted, reaffirming their collaboration with the BCCI and Rajasthan State Sports Council.
For now, the team is hoping to put the noise behind and focus on salvaging their IPL 2025 campaign; one that’s quickly spiraling on and off the pitch.
Latest IPL 2025 Points Table
Midway through the season, the Royals are eighth in the league standings with six losses and just two wins.
Will RR qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs? Check out qualification scenarios, chances, and wins required
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +1.104 |
| Delhi Capitals | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.589 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.472 |
| Punjab Kings | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.177 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.088 |
| Mumbai Indians | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.483 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.212 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.633 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1.217 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1.392 |
(Correct as of April 21, 2025)
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