Rajasthan Royals (RR) found themselves at the centre of a storm following their nail-biting two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an IPL 2025 match on April 19 in Jaipur. While the match itself was characterized by record-breaking moments such as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerging as the youngest debuting player in the history of IPL, the Royals' performance has left everybody enraged with serious accusations.

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RR's regular skipper Sanju Samson was markedly missing from the playing XI because of injury, his absence affecting the team's leadership on the field. He won't be back for the franchise's next match in Bengaluru either. With the Royals desperately sitting eighth on the points table—with only two wins and six losses from eight matches—the heat is mounting both on and off the field.

Controversial Allegations of Match-Fixing

And now, in the midst of their dismal run and heart-wrenching loss, a huge controversy has broken out. Rajasthan Royals have been accused of match-fixing—a bombshell thrown by no less a person than Jaideep Bihani, convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad hoc committee.

While speaking, Bihani didn’t hold back. He raised eyebrows and questions over RR’s performance, especially in the final over of their match against LSG. "On the home ground, how did they lose when requiring so few runs in the final over?" he inquired, implying there was more to the result than cricketing stress.

A Dramatic Final Over

RR needed 181 runs and required nine runs from the final over, with Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer at the wicket. However, the final overturned the match on its head. Avesh Khan, bowling for LSG, held his nerve under pressure. He dismissed Hetmyer on the third delivery, and from there on, RR could manage only three more runs from the remaining three balls. They ended their innings at 178/5 in 20 overs, falling short by just two runs.

Conflict Over IPL Arrangements

Adding fuel to the fire, Bihani also accused the franchise of sidelining the RCA from the ongoing IPL proceedings. As the MLA from Sri Ganganagar and the convenor of the government-appointed ad hoc committee, Bihani voiced frustration over the RCA’s exclusion. "The ad hoc committee has been appointed by the state government in Rajasthan. It has extended for a fifth time. We make sure all competitions take place without any issues. But then just as IPL came, the Zila Parishad (district council) took control of it," he said.

He further claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had originally reached out to RCA, not the district council, regarding IPL arrangements. Bihani slammed the franchise and local authorities, stating, "For IPL, the BCCI had first sent a letter to RCA only, not Zila Parishad. The excuse given by them and RR that we don’t have an MOU from Sawai Mansingh Stadium. If MOU is not there, so what? Aren’t you paying Zila Parishad for every match?"

A Call for Investigation

The comments have stirred a significant uproar, with fans and cricket experts calling for clarity. Bihani’s assertion that an “investigation is necessary” has added another layer to the unfolding drama.

RR's head coach, ex-Indian captain Rahul Dravid, is also in the firing line now, along with the franchise management, as doubts revolve around transparency, intent, and performance. Whether these charges are valid or politically driven will be seen later, but the demand for an inquiry could establish a serious precedent in IPL's regulatory history.

As the Royals prepare for their next match in Bengaluru, all eyes will not just be on their on-field performance—but also on the off-field developments that now threaten to overshadow their season.