&w=3840&q=100)
IPL 2025: Here's why Rajasthan Royals have demanded action against RCA ad-hoc committee convenor Jaideep Bihani
Rajasthan Royals have written a strongly-worded letter to Rajasthan Sports Minister Rajasthan Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Sports Council seeking action against RCA ad-hoc committee convener Bihani, who's also a BJP MLA from Sriganganagar. Here's why. read more
Rajasthan Royals currently find themselves at the eighth spot on the IPL 2025 points table with six defeats in eight games. PTI
It's been far from ideal a season for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2025 Indian Premier League, in which they find themselves on the verge of bowing out of the playoffs race with six games still to go in the league stage. RR haven't had much stability on the leadership front either, with Sanju Samson unable to lead the side for half of the season due to fitness issues, forcing Riyan Parag to fill in for him.
Advertisement
What has made the situation worse for the Royals is the fact that they fell marginally short in a run chase in each of their last two outings despite being well on top for the better part. RR were well on their way to chasing down the 181-run target set by Lucknow Super Giants in their previous outing on Saturday, only to fall marginally short and suffer a two-run loss in the end. The Royals needed 25 to win from 18 balls with eight wickets in hand and two well-set batters at the crease, only to be thwarted by some brilliant death bowling by Avesh Khan.
While the result was heartbreaking for the Royals, they find themselves accused of match-fixing for the manner in which they lost to the Rishabh Pant's side. What makes the issue a lot more serious is the fact that the fixing accusation has come from Jaideep Bihani, the ad-hoc committee convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
Royals write strongly-worded letter to Rajasthan government against match-fixing accusations
The franchise has since written to Rajasthan Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Sports Council, refuting the allegations made by the BJP MLA from Sriganganagar.
'Jaideep Bihani, convener of the ad-hoc committee of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), has issued a statement regarding Rajasthan Royals' (RR) performance in recent matches, Rajasthan Sports Council and BCCI. In which he has made comments raising doubts on the performance of Rajasthan Royals and hinting at manipulation in IPL matches," the Royals wrote in a letter to the state government.
'Jaideep Bihani has also accused Rajasthan Royals management, Rajasthan Sports Council and BCCI of colluding with each other to exclude RCA ad hoc from participating in IPL. Whereas in reality, all the allegations made by ad hoc committee convener Jaideep Bihani are completely false and baseless. There is no evidence for them…'
Advertisement
'These public allegations cause great damage to the reputation and image of Rajasthan Royals. Such statements have unnecessarily escalated the controversy and also attempted to mislead the public. Along with this, Bihani has also worked to reduce the credibility of Royal Multi Sport Private Limited (RMPL), Rajasthan Royals franchise, Rajasthan Sports Council and the BCCI, as well as cricket. Whereas we have been working successfully with the state association and state government as per the instructions of the BCCI for the last 18 years,' it added.
RR also refute allegations over not keeping RCA in loop over IPL games in Jaipur
The Rahul Dravid-coached side have also refuted the allegation that they have not kept the RCA ad-hoc committee in the loop while organising IPL matches at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Stadium, which has been their home ground since the inaugural season in 2008.
'This year, according to the BCCI, Rajasthan Sports Council has the rights to host IPL matches in Jaipur. Therefore, Rajasthan Royals is working closely with the BCCI and the Council under the guidance and support of the state government to organise the IPL smoothly.
'We request the Sports Council and the State Government to take all necessary steps and actions to prevent and control such conduct. We are writing to you with full faith in your leadership. We hope that you will intervene appropriately in this matter…' the Royals further wrote.
Advertisement
The Royals travel to Bengaluru, where they face an upbeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next game on Thursday. Given they've already lost six out of eight games this season, they find themselves needing to win each of their remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
Ex-Coach's Big Reveal: 'Jasprit Bumrah Playing 3 Tests In ENG Was Decided When...'
Last Updated: Former coach Soham Desai revealed that Jasprit Bumrah's limit of three Tests in England was set even before the 2025 Champions Trophy in February. Indian men's team's former strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai has revealed that Jasprit Bumrah's workload limit of only three Tests in England was decided months ago — even before the 2025 Champions Trophy in February-Match in Pakistan and the UAE. After being at his peak in the first four Tests, Bumrah picked up a serious back injury in the fifth match of India's tour of Australia in January. He missed the next three months of international cricket, including the Champions Trophy, though India won the tournament without him. He returned for the IPL and played all games bar the first few. But during the tournament, it was confirmed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar that he would only play three or four Tests. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and Bumrah himself confirmed that number in the leadup to the first Test in Headingley. 'When Bumrah couldn't make it to the Champions Trophy, India's Future Tours Programme (FTP) was studied and it was decided that he will only play three Tests in England," Desai told The Times of India. Desai also explained how the team judges a player's workload and rest needs. 'There are two ways to analyse the workload. There is an objective way, where we collect data from wearable GPS devices. And then there is a subjective way of observing how the bowler is behaving. There are certain benchmarks set for each player as 'normal' behaviour when they are at peak performance," Desai said. 'If it is observed that a bowler is moving differently or lacks a bit of intensity even in simple tasks like conversations in the team bus, these become markers," he added. There's speculation on whether Bumrah would play the second Test in Edgbaston, given India are trailing the series 1-0. Although Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has denied having made the decision, Desai said venue-specific plans are made much before the series and any change would also happen at least two days before the start of the match. Desai reveals why Bumrah got injured in Australia Desai also said Bumrah's injury in the fifth Test in Sydney had more to do with his excessive workload in the fourth game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 'There is a set number of overs that is decided for Bumrah to bowl per Test. One can go five-seven overs beyond that limit, but what needs to be seen is how those extra overs are bowled. At the MCG in the previous Test series, he bowled those extra overs without much of a breather between spells. That caused a spike in his workload which triggered the back injury in Sydney," he said. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 01, 2025, 09:33 IST
NDTV
34 minutes ago
- NDTV
SRH Co-Owner Kavya Maran Breaks Silence On Her Social Media Memes During IPL
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have become a much powerful franchise than they were a few seasons ago. With signings like Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, etc., the franchise has become one of the most feared sides in the T20 league. However, it isn't just the team's players that make it famous, but also its owners. Kavya Maran, a co-owner of the franchise, is often seen in the stands whenever the franchise plays. On a few occasions, Kavya was also spotted giving riveting speeches in the SRH dressing room. Despite being an owner that is not from the entertainment or sporting industry, Kavya gets to feature quite a lot on television sets. In a candid interview, Kavya said that it's her passion of the game that sees her constantly capturing the cameraman's attention. "Those are my raw emotions that you're seeing because my job has brought me to the point that I have to put myself out there. In Hyderabad, I can't do anything; I have to sit there. That's the only place I can sit. But even when I go to Ahmedabad or Chennai, and I'm sitting many feet away, somewhere in the box, the cameraman manages to find me. So, I understand how it becomes memes," she said in a chat with InsideSport. Kavya Maran over the moon after the 1st wicket. — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 7, 2023 From tears of despair to jumps of ecstasy, through Kavya, fans get to witness all the emotions an avid Sunrisers Hyderabad supporter goes through. "When it comes to Sunrisers, I genuinely wear my heart on my sleeve. I think when you put your heart and soul into something, you naturally tend to get very personally attached to its successes and failures," said Kavya, the ED & CEO of Sun TV Network and Sunrisers Hyderabad. It was in 2016 that the franchise last managed to lift the IPL title. Since then, the franchise has only reached the final of the tournament twice, in 2018 and 2024. The pursuit of winning their second title, goes on.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Kavya Maran Breaks Silence On Viral IPL Memes, Cameraman Manages To Find Me
Kavya Maran, the co-owner and face of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has finally addressed what social media has turned into a seasonal ritual—her emotional reactions during IPL matches becoming viral meme material. In an era where owners are often elusive or camera-shy, Kavya has become a central figure, not just in the boardroom but in the stands, embodying the pulse of the Orange Army with every ball bowled. In an exclusive and candid interview, the SRH boss opened up about being at the epicenter of the meme storm, driven purely by her passion for the game. 'Those are my raw emotions,' Kavya told InsideSport. 'Even when I'm tucked away in a box far from the field, the cameraman somehow finds me. I understand why it becomes a meme—it's real, unfiltered.' From Auction Star to Fan Favorite Kavya first stole the limelight during the 2023 IPL Auction, where her poise and authority as SRH's top decision-maker drew widespread praise. Since then, she has transformed into more than just a business executive—she's become the face of a franchise constantly battling for resurgence in the IPL's elite tier. While other owners stay behind the scenes, Kavya's in-your-face fandom has struck a chord with fans. Her range of emotions—from nail-biting tension to euphoric celebrations—mirrors what millions of cricket lovers feel, making her instantly relatable. Sunrisers Hyderabad: A Team Reborn SRH, under Kavya's watch, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Once seen as perennial underachievers post their 2016 title win, the franchise has regrouped with power-packed signings such as Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Heinrich Klaasen. The result? A formidable unit that reached the final in 2024 and consistently challenged the best teams in the league. Despite a middling 2025 season—finishing sixth with just six wins—the team's long-term vision seems firmly on track. Kavya's commitment is evident not just in the Indian Premier League but also in the global T20 arena. She oversees Sunrisers Eastern Cape, SRH's sister team in the SA20 League, which won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 under Aiden Markram. 'I Wear My Heart on My Sleeve' In her own words, 'When it comes to Sunrisers, I genuinely wear my heart on my sleeve. I've put my heart and soul into this franchise. When we win, it's euphoric. When we lose, it hurts personally.' That honesty resonates with fans, and it's the reason her every reaction—cheering wildly, gasping in despair, or anxiously watching from the VIP box—spreads like wildfire across social platforms. She's not acting for the cameras; she's just being herself. And in a world where curated content dominates, that authenticity is rare—and meme-worthy. Memes, Media & a Modern Owner's Brand The media frenzy around Kavya Maran isn't just driven by curiosity but by visibility. In the age of IPL fandom, a franchise's brand is no longer limited to its players—it extends to its backroom staff, owners, and everything in between. Kavya's passionate presence, captured endlessly by television cameras, has made her a symbol of the SRH spirit. What was once viewed as unusual—an owner so emotionally involved—is now a strength. Her visibility has given Sunrisers Hyderabad a stronger connection with their fanbase, especially Gen Z and millennials, who value raw emotion over corporate stoicism.
