Rajasthan Royals’ campaign in the IPL 2026 came to an end at the penultimate stage, with the franchise losing to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday. The defeat sealed RR’s elimination and left their supporters with a tough pill to swallow, particularly because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a stirring knock of 96 to drive his team to a total of 214. Even that strong platform wasn’t enough, as Shubman Gill’s influence guided Gujarat Titans to a seven-wicket win and booked their place in the final.
The match result also sparked reaction well beyond the boundary ropes. Raj Kundra—who had been a co-owner of the Royals since 2009—shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that resonated with many fans after the qualifier defeat. Writing after RR’s loss, Kundra said, “Some losses are bigger than the points table. Karma has its own playoffs.”
Kundra’s association with the franchise has been shaped by major controversy over the years. After the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal, he was forced to step away from his ownership role. The fallout led to a ban from cricket-related activities in 2015, and in the years that followed, Kundra and his wife moved on from their formal management duties within the Royals setup.
More recently, Kundra returned to the spotlight by approaching the BCCI and the courts in relation to a planned sale of the Rajasthan Royals valued at USD 1.63 billion. His position was that his original 11.7% stake had never been transferred or legally cleared. Kundra, husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, argued that because the ownership structure was still under legal dispute, approval for the franchise transfer should not be granted at that stage—yet the transaction proceeded.
While the takeover attempt by a consortium spearheaded by the US-based investor Kal Somani ultimately did not materialise, the Royals were still sold later to a different group. A Lakshmi Mittal-led consortium completed the purchase for USD 1.65 billion. Under the final arrangement, the Mittal family holds 75% of the franchise, with Adar Poonawalla owning roughly 18% after the deal’s completion.
Rajasthan Royals’ history in the league underscores how much is at stake for the franchise and why this latest exit hurts. The Royals last lifted the IPL title in 2008, the tournament’s inaugural season. They returned to the final in 2022, led by Sanju Samson, only to be beaten by Gujarat Titans in that championship match.
Now, the same opponent has halted RR again. In IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, Gujarat Titans—guided by Gill—secured another win over the Royals, setting up a final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
