Introduction
The Rajasthan Royals, often referred to as the ‘Royals’, are a well-known team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Formed in 2008, they have seen numerous moments of glory and triumph. Despite this though, their journey has not been without controversy. In the following paragraphs, we will delve into some of the most controversial moments in the history of Rajasthan Royals.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Suspension in IPL 2010
In one of the first major controversies involving the team, player Ravindra Jadeja was banned from playing during IPL 2010 for a contractual violation. The cricketer reportedly failed to renew his contract with Rajasthan Royals after its expiration and instead started negotiating deals with other franchises.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently observed that such conduct destroys the foundation on which franchising principles are built and suspended him for the season. This incident was a significant low point for both Jadeja and the franchise.
Jadeja’s Return Post-Ban
However, Jadeja made a return post-ban where he had established himself firmly in all three formats of cricket for India. He was picked up by Kochi Tuskers Kerala ahead of IPL 2011 and later moved onto Chennai Super Kings becoming an integral part of them.
It is worth noting that even till today, these actions pertaining to contractual obligations serve as benchmark events setting precedences for others.
The Spot-Fixing Scandal
Another instance that rocked the entire cricketing community was when three players from Rajasthan Royals – S.Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan – were arrested under allegations of spot-fixing in 2013. They were allegedly involved in manipulating parts of the matches in return for money. Following their arrest, all three players were dropped from the team and banned by the BCCI.
Aftermath of Spot-Fixing Scandal
The controversy did not just end with these bans; it further caused a domino effect leading to Sanjay Dixit, a senior member of Rajasthan Royals management leaving his role to make way for fresh faces allegedly due to internal disagreements on handling this issue.
This scandal also led to Supreme Court’s intervention resulting in banning both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years from IPL which was another major blow to the franchise.
Raj Kundra’s Betting Case
Businessman and co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals Raj Kundra was involved in a separate betting case during 2013 IPL season. Allegedly, he admitted placing bets on his own team through a bookie. This followed an investigation by Delhi Police who stated that they had evidence of him losing large sums of money on bets.
Subsequently, Raj Kundra was suspended from participation in cricket-related activities and eventually saw himself being removed from his ownership stake in Rajasthan Royals.
Fallout From Kundra’s Case
This was again another severe jolt to already reeling Rajasthan Royals as this resulted in issues regarding their team ownership structure causing problems ahead of player auctions.
The legal proceedings and investigations continued post allegations resulting in more embarrassment for the team amid media glare before finally getting some respite after serving out their two-year ban period.
Steve Smith’s Ball-Tampering Controversy
Australian captain Steve Smith, who also served as Rajasthan Royals’ captain, faced serious backlash when he confessed his involvement in a ball-tampering incident during Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2018. Following his admission, Smith was handed a one-year ban from international cricket by Cricket Australia.
As a result of this controversy, he stepped down as Rajasthan Royals’ captain and the franchise was then led by Ajinkya Rahane for the remainder of IPL 2018.
Impact on Rajasthan Royals
Smith’s departure half-way through IPL did put extra pressure on team management to fill in those voids which ultimately might have cost them dear.
However, post serving his suspension period; Steve Smith made a successful comeback into international cricket and continued playing for Rajasthan Royals before being eventually released ahead of IPL 2021 auctions.
Conclusion
From these instances, it is clear that the history of Rajasthan Royals has been marred by several controversies. However, they have shown resilience in dealing with these setbacks while working towards restoring their image within the cricketing community.
They continue to strive hard putting together good performances standing up against best teams—which speaks volumes about their fighting spirit. Every season brings new challenges and opportunities for them keeping us excited about watching more of ‘Royals’.’
