The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are facing serious allegations of match-fixing following their dramatic two-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur on April 19. Jaideep Bihani, convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad hoc committee and a BJP MLA, has publicly questioned the team's conduct during the IPL 2025 match. (Full IPL Coverage | More Cricket News)
The accusation stems from RR's failure to chase down a tricky target of 181, specifically their inability to score the nine runs required in the final over bowled by LSG's Avesh Khan.
"Even a kid would say that the match against LSG was fixed," Bihani stated in an interview with News18 Rajasthan, highlighting the seemingly achievable target in the last over.
Despite needing just nine runs with batters Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer at the crease, RR managed only six runs, losing Hetmyer in the process and finishing at 178/5. This collapse occurred after RR appeared to be cruising at 156/2, needing 25 runs off 18 balls, before losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and stand-in captain Riyan Parag in quick succession.
Bihani also criticised the RR franchise for excluding the state-appointed RCA ad hoc committee from the management and organisation of IPL matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. He questioned the justification provided by RR and the Zila Parishad/Sports Council regarding the lack of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the stadium, pointing out that payments are being made for match hosting regardless.
Just three days before that match, Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals defended nine runs in the last over against the Royals to take the game in the Super Over, where the Capitals won the match easily.
Former champions have a notorious past of match-fixing, for which they were suspended from the IPL for two years (2016 & 2017) after a verdict reached by a panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were also suspended along with them.
These allegations compound a difficult season for the 2008 IPL champions. RR currently sit eighth on the points table with only two wins from eight matches. They are also grappling with the absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, who is recovering from an abdominal injury and will miss their next game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 24.
Rajasthan Royals have not yet issued an official statement responding to Bihani's accusations.
