Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been featuring in the IPL since 2008. But they weren’t part of the league for two years – 2016 and 2017.
Now, you must be wondering about the reason behind both teams’ absence. And it turns out, CSK and RR faced a two-year ban!
But why did both teams face the ban?
Well, let’s uncover the reason behind the two-year suspension of CSK and RR.
Initial Years
CSK were already a hit among the fans with the inclusion of MS Dhoni in the squad. Dhoni was fresh off the 2007 T20 World Cup triumph as India’s skipper. So it was a big boost for CSK to have a captain like him.
Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, were trying to establish themselves among the big boys. And they shocked everyone as they lifted the title in the inaugural season. This helped RR get out of the underdog identity.
A couple of seasons later, CSK went on to win their first trophy. They made it a double delight in 2011 by adding another one.
Everything was going well for both franchises. Their brand value was also on the rise.
But then came IPL 2013 – a season full of controversies and scandals.
The Betting Scandal
While the 2013 season had all the entertainment and memorable performances, things were shady behind the scenes.
But what exactly happened? A betting scandal took place during the season.
And it wasn’t an ordinary scandal, as it had the involvement of a team official of CSK and a co-owner of RR! When the scandal came to light, it shocked everyone.
Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra (RR co-owner) were the respective offenders involved in the 2013 betting saga. Both placed illegal bets on IPL games, including on their own teams.
Meiyappan, in particular, had deeper roots in the scandal. He was CSK’s Team Principal and son-in-law of the team’s owner, N. Srinivasan.
Interestingly, Srinivasan was the then BCCI President while he operated CSK under India Cements. While Srinivasan wasn’t involved in the scandal, it warranted more attention.
As a result, the Supreme Court (SC) of India swooped into action. In October 2013, the SC appointed a three-member committee to investigate the whole matter.
The result? The Mukul Mudgal-led panel found evidence of the involvement of the two accused in betting activities.
Then the SC formed another committee to decide the fate of Meiyappan and Kundra. The committee, led by Justice R. M. Lodha, delivered their decision in July 2015.
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The Verdict
After an in-depth investigation, the Justice Lodha Committee handed out harsh punishments to Meiyappan and Kundra. Both received a life ban from any involvement in cricket activities.
But the ban wasn’t limited to the individuals. CSK and RR were also on the receiving end.
So the teams were also involved in betting?
Not really. In fact, they had no connection with the scandal.
Then why were CSK and RR banned?
Since the franchises turned a blind eye to the actions of Meiyappan and Kundra, the Lodha committee pulled them up. While RR later took action against Kundra, CSK tried to disassociate themselves from Meiyappan.
Thus, the lack of action resulted in a two-year ban for CSK and RR. Both teams served the ban across the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
The Impact
The ban meant CSK and RR were out of action for two seasons. This, in turn, brought down their brand value and, of course, their reputation.
In addition, the BCCI introduced stricter regulations about franchise ownership. And the anti-corruption rules were also enhanced.
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