The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been shaken by a controversy as Rajasthan Royals (RR) are hit with new match-fixing charges after a dramatic two-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 36. The charges were leveled by Jaideep Bihani, the convener of the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s (RCA) ad hoc committee, after RR were unable to chase down nine runs in the last over despite having six wickets at hand.
Match-Fixing: Last-Over Collapse Raising Eyebrows
Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals were in the driver’s seat when they were chasing 181 runs and required only nine runs off the last over. But LSG bowler Avesh Khan produced a breathtaking last over, defending the total and securing a two-run victory for his side. The dramatic collapse left everyone surprised and created a torrent of rumors, and Bihani questioned the integrity of the game.
In a chat with News18 Rajasthan, Bihani did not hold back as he referred to the team’s controversial past. “How RR lost the match on their home turf after requiring only a few runs is doubtful,” he stated.
Controversial Past of Match-Fixing Comes Back to Haunt
Bihani also brought to the fore the franchise’s notoriety for the spot-fixing scandal of 2013, which resulted in player arrests and a team ban. He also reminded the people of franchise owner Raj Kundra being involved in illegal betting, which resulted in Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings being suspended from the IPL for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Seeking a proper inquiry, Bihani urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other concerned authorities to investigate the issue. “This should be taken seriously. The credibility of the game is at stake,” he further said.
RCA Ousted from IPL Hosting Responsibilities
Apart from the match-fixing issue, Bihani claimed that the Rajasthan Cricket Association was intentionally kept out of IPL hosting duties. He stated that the state’s Sports Council and the RR management skipped RCA on the grounds of not having a proper Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The ad hoc committee has been appointed by the state government in Rajasthan. After analysing our work, we were given an extension for the fifth time. During our tenure, we’ve conducted all competitions successfully right from the district level to the national level. However, as soon as the time for hosting IPL came, the Sports Council took control of it,” he clarified.
Pattern of Bizarre Defeats Increases Suspicion
This is the second time RR has been questioned this season. In a game against Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier, the team could not chase nine runs in the last over with seven wickets remaining and lost the game in the Super Over later. After their fourth consecutive defeat, the team is now struggling in eighth position on the table with just two wins from eight games.
Rajasthan Royals will then play Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 24 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following match-fixing threats hanging over the franchise now, everything is in focus about how the team plays with the cloud of shame hanging over them.
