Kumar Sangakkara has admitted Rajasthan Royals have been forced into an uncomfortable period of reflection after two off-field controversies involving senior members of the franchise drew the attention of the IPL Governing Council and BCCI ahead of their clash against Delhi Capitals in Jaipur.
The last incident involved the acting captain Riyan Parag caught on camera with an e-cigarette in the team dugout during Rajasthan’s recent match against Punjab Kings. The footage quickly went viral on social media and led to the IPL fining Parago 20 percent of his match fee for breaching the league’s code of conduct. No suspension was imposed.
That came after a few days Rajasthan team manager Romi Bhinder was also punished by the IPL Board of Governors. Bhinder was seen using his phone during the match in team football, with teenage batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sitting next to him. The IPL fined Bhinder Rs 1 lakh for the violation but again stopped short of imposing a ban.
With Rajasthan now facing increasing scrutiny for repeated disciplinary lapses, Sangakkara admitted the incidents did not reflect well on the franchise and said both matters had already been dealt with internally and by the authorities.
Reminder for Rajasthan Royals
“Such controversies are not positive for the team and all I can say is that both issues have been addressed by BCCI and the franchise,” Sangakkara said on the eve of Rajasthan’s meeting with Delhi Capitals, as quoted by Sportstar.
“It’s a reminder to the players that they have to maintain the culture of the team.”
Sangakkara has made it clear that the Royals want to focus back on cricket as they prepare for the crucial home game in Jaipur. Rajasthan remain in the thick of the playoffs and cannot afford any more distractions at a crucial stage of the season.
The Royals coach also reflected on the swings in their previous performances and pointed to the value of small but crucial contributions in shaping results.
“His little innings shifted the momentum our way,” Sangakkara said. “He turned the momentum in our favor.
Sangakkara also expects the conditions in Jaipur to offer another strong surface, with Rajasthan gearing up for a high-quality match against a Delhi side still looking for rhythm.
“And it looks like another good pitch,” he said. “We expect nothing less than the best from DC.
For Rajasthan, the challenge is now straightforward. The Royals must ensure that their performances, rather than disciplinary lapses, remain the theme as the tournament enters its crucial phase.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
01 May 2026 04:01 IST
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