Match-Fixing Ghost: Rajasthan Royals Again In Dock

Rajasthan Royals (RR) are facing allegations of match-fixing again following their shocking loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 36 of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). Jaideep Bihani, Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad hoc committee convener, has alleged that the team was involved in some foul play, raising questions about their loss in the close encounter.

Chasing a target of 181 runs, the Sanju Samson-led side required just nine runs to win in the final over, having six wickets in hand. However, much to everyone’s surprise, they ended up losing the match by two runs as LSG’s Avesh Khan successfully defended the score for his team with his exceptional death bowling.

However, the loss didn’t go down well with Jaideep Bihani, who questioned how the team lost on its home ground after needing just a few runs to win the encounter. In an interview given to News18 Rajasthan, Bihani mentioned the controversial past of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL as their players were caught in spot-fixing in 2013.

Moreover, the franchise owner Raj Kundra was also caught in betting, leading to their ban for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 along with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Hence, he demanded an investigation into the matter, urging the BCCI and other agencies to take stock of the situation. Apart from that, Bihani has also alleged that the Rajasthan Cricket Association was sidelined from overseeing the hosting of the IPL due to baseless excuses.

Earlier, Rajasthan also failed to score nine runs in the last over against Delhi Capitals (DC) having seven wickets in hand, and eventually lost the match in the super over. Following their fourth successive defeat, they are now teetering at the eighth spot on the points table with two wins from eight matches having four points to their name. They will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 24th April at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.