The Rajasthan Royals, often abbreviated as RR, are a professional franchise cricket team based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. They are one of the eight original teams that participated in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. The team plays its home matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The franchise is known for its knack for discovering obscure, high-potential talent. The team is owned by the Emerging Media IPL Ltd, led by Manoj Badale, which holds a 65% stake. Key minority stakeholders include Lachlan Murdoch and Redbird Capital Partners. The franchise was initially the least expensive team in the league, purchased for $67 million.
Height
The Rajasthan Royals’ crowning glory came in the inaugural edition of the IPL, where they emerged as champions under the captaincy of Shane Warne. Despite being written off as a title contender by the media and fans, the Royals proved their mettle and won the tournament. They were also the runners-up of the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, and they reached the finals of the 2022 Indian Premier League under the captaincy of Sanju Samson and leadership of Kumar Sangakkara.
Low Point
The team faced a significant setback in 2010 when the BCCI decided to expel the Rajasthan Royals from the IPL. The expulsion was a result of controversies regarding the ownership of the franchise. However, the team filed an appeal against the decision, and after a series of court cases, they were allowed to remain in the IPL. In 2015, the team was banned for two years following the Lodha Committee inquiry. This ban was a result of inappropriate and fictitious bids made in violation of BCCI norms. The team’s owner, Raj Kundra, was banned for life. Despite these challenges, the team made a comeback in the 2018 season.