The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have formally urged action against the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad-hoc committee convenor, Jaideep Bihani, after he made explosive match-fixing allegations against the IPL franchise. The controversy stems from RR’s narrow two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur, a result that Bihani suspiciously linked to potential manipulation.
Following the loss, Bihani publicly questioned how RR, with six wickets in hand, failed to score nine runs in the final over. His comments have sparked outrage within the Royals’ camp, who now accuse him of tarnishing the team’s image and undermining their integrity.
In a strongly worded letter to the Rajasthan government and the state’s Sports Council, the Royals expressed serious concern over the allegations, calling them defamatory and damaging. “Such baseless comments create doubt among fans and harm not only the Rajasthan Royals’ reputation but also that of the BCCI, the Rajasthan Sports Council, and the credibility of cricket itself,” the letter, quoted by Sportstar, stated.
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RR pointed out that they’ve maintained a transparent and collaborative relationship with the state association and the BCCI for over 18 years. The letter added that public statements like Bihani’s only serve to “mislead the public” and stir unnecessary controversy.
The tension escalated after Bihani also accused the Royals of blocking RCA’s involvement in this season’s IPL match management at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. He claimed RR had deliberately sidelined the RCA in favour of working directly with the Rajasthan Sports Council.
Rajasthan Royals accused of match-fixing by RCA ad hoc committee convenor, calls for investigation after Riyan Parag-led side’s 2-run loss to LSG#IPL2025 #RRvLSG https://t.co/NHRCilRDqd
— Sports Tak (@sports_tak) April 22, 2025
Responding to these claims, the Royals categorically denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “false and baseless.” They clarified that as per BCCI’s directive, it is the Rajasthan Sports Council that holds the hosting rights this year, and RR has been coordinating with them accordingly.
“Allegations of collusion between Rajasthan Royals, BCCI, and the state government to exclude RCA are entirely unfounded,” RR stated. “The Royals are operating under full compliance with BCCI rules and in consultation with the appropriate authorities to ensure the successful hosting of matches in Jaipur.”
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As RR navigates a mixed IPL season on the field, the off-field storm triggered by Bihani’s remarks adds another layer of complexity, one the franchise clearly isn’t taking lightly.
