The Rajasthan Royals, an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, has entered a controversial phase following its recent $1.65 billion takeover by the Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla. This acquisition, completed on May 3, 2026, has been met with significant backlash from the consortium led by Kal Somani, which claims it was unfairly sidelined despite being the lead bidders throughout the six-month process. The Somani-led group expressed 'deep disappointment' in an official statement, asserting that they were always 'fully funded' and never withdrew their bid, contradicting reports of funding issues. They allege that the bidding process was not conducted on a 'level playing field' and called for greater transparency and integrity in such significant transactions. The fallout from this controversy raises the possibility of legal challenges that could impact the finalization of the Mittal-Poonawalla acquisition. The Somani consortium emphasized their commitment to the growth of sports and expressed hopes for future opportunities despite the setback.