Raj Kundra’s cryptic social media post following Rajasthan Royals’ elimination from IPL 2026 has triggered widespread discussion among cricket fans, with many linking his remarks to the franchise’s recent ownership changes and his long-running legal dispute over stakeholding rights.
Rajasthan Royals’ campaign came to an end on Friday after a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. Despite a brilliant knock of 96 from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Royals failed to defend their total of 214, as Gujarat captain Shubman Gill produced a match-winning century to guide his side into the IPL 2026 final.
Some losses are bigger than the points table. Karma has its own playoffs. 😉
— Raj Kundra (@onlyrajkundra) May 29, 2026
Soon after the defeat, Kundra took to X (formerly Twitter) with a brief but pointed message that quickly went viral.
“Some losses are bigger than the points table. Karma has its own playoffs,” he wrote.
The post left many fans speculating about its meaning, especially given Kundra’s complicated history with the franchise.
Kundra became a co-owner of Rajasthan Royals in 2009 but was forced to step away following the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal. In 2015, he was banned from cricket-related activities, leading him and his wife, actor Shilpa Shetty, to relinquish their official roles within the franchise.
More recently, Kundra challenged a proposed sale of the Rajasthan Royals, claiming that his original 11.7 per cent equity stake had never been legally transferred or fully resolved. He approached both the BCCI and the courts, arguing that ownership changes should not proceed while the dispute remained under legal examination.
Kundra had objected to a proposed $1.63 billion takeover by a consortium led by US-based investor Kal Somani, maintaining that unresolved questions surrounding shareholding made the transaction premature.
Although that deal ultimately did not materialise, the franchise was later acquired by a consortium led by industrialist Lakshmi Mittal in a transaction valued at approximately $1.65 billion. Following the completion of the deal, the Mittal family emerged as the majority owner with a 75 per cent stake, while businessman Adar Poonawalla retained around 18 per cent ownership.
The Royals’ latest playoff exit adds another chapter to a franchise that has struggled to replicate the success of its historic title-winning campaign in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. The team came closest in 2022, reaching the final under Sanju Samson’s leadership before losing to Gujarat Titans.
History repeated itself in IPL 2026 as Gujarat once again ended Rajasthan’s title hopes. Led by Shubman Gill’s outstanding century, the Titans chased down a challenging target to secure a place in the final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
While Rajasthan’s season ended in disappointment, Kundra’s cryptic post ensured that attention quickly shifted beyond the cricket field, reigniting conversations about ownership battles, unfinished legal disputes and his enduring connection to the franchise.