IPL 2018: Rajasthan Royals face a new problem ahead of the season

Rajasthan Royals are making a comeback to the Indian Premier League after their two years suspension. However, their comeback is not talked about much as compared to their counterpart CSK. The franchise has a huge fan following as well but is running into trouble again. This time not because of a match-fixing scandal.

Rajasthan Royals have played all their home games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. They have had excellent crowds over the years. The stadium being small by the diameter has resulted in some of the highest scoring games in the IPL history. The winners of the first season of the cash-rich IPL might have to move away from the fortress.

The venue for RR still undecided

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has been banned by the BCCI. The ban is not yet revoked as BCCI has asked Rajasthan Cricket Association to sit down and implement the demands of the Indian board. The ban of RCA is bounced on the stadium as well, as it is their home ground. RR is now looking for a new home.

Some of the officials are rooting for the newest stadium in Lucknow to hold the games. However, some are saying that the home ground should be associated with the base of the franchise. Doing that attracts more crowd and the players feel like home. Rajasthan Royals would feel undone if they had to move out of their home ground as it was their fortress; literally.

A source close to RCA told Times of India about the incident. “The Rajasthan High Court had directed to RCA to hold general body meeting to implement the clauses put in by BCCI to revoke the suspension and allow elected administrators to resume functioning. They have held an emergent general meeting and done the required. The next hearing, where RCA will put up its final submission, is on January 24.

“BCCI can’t let go of the home grounds of the franchises. There has to be a connection with the name of the franchise. Jaipur has seen good crowds all these years,” the source told. “The Rajasthan government too has been very supportive and has looked after BCCI’s concerns during RCA’s suspension period too. It will be unfair if all the matches are moved out of Jaipur,” he concluded.