Image: Rajasthan Royals face match-fixing allegations after narrow loss and ongoing leadership woes / © Mint
With the Rajasthan Royals suffering a narrow two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the team has found itself in the middle of a major controversy. BJP MLA and RCA ad hoc committee convenor Jaideep Bihani accused the franchise of potential match-fixing, citing their failure to chase 181 despite needing just nine runs in the final over. The Royals ended at 178/5, continuing a dismal IPL 2025 season with only two wins from eight matches, sitting eighth on the points table.
The match, which also saw 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi become the youngest player in IPL history, was overshadowed by Bihani’s allegations. He also criticized RR for sidelining the RCA in IPL match organization and questioned the financial dealings with local authorities. The franchise has not yet responded to the charges. Sanju Samson remains sidelined with injury, with leadership and form issues compounding RR’s troubles mid-season.