RCB https://www.cricketwinner.com RCB Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:49:12 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html https://github.com/jpmonette/feed en Copyright © 2024 Cricket Winner. All Rights Reserved. <![CDATA[RCB dominate brand value charts as IPL 2025 winners]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/rcb-dominate-brand-value-charts-as-ipl-2025-winners/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/rcb-dominate-brand-value-charts-as-ipl-2025-winners/ Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:23:55 GMT

According to the 2025 year-over-year brand value update of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises conducted by Houlihan Lokey, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) surged into the position of the most valued IPL franchise, overtaking incumbent champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). RCB had an 18.5% increase from 2024's brand value of $227 million to 2025's brand value of $269 million.

The brand value web rtlto played a part in RCB's historic first IPL title in 2023, which capped a 17-year title drought for the franchise and erased the curse of being the only team to have never won the title. Leveraging its massive fan base and Virat Kohli's legacy, the franchise has been able to turn its historical stature into unprecedented commercial opportunism.

RCB Lead Brand Value Charts, PBKS Post Record Growth

Mumbai Indians continue to sit at number two, worth $242l million in brand value, a growth of 18.6%. Worst, Chennai Super Kings, the five-time winners and gold-nibbler of all time, slipped to number three because they could only manage a meager 1.7% increase. Both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Delhi Capitals (DC) showed good health with double-digit growth, increasing their valuation.

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The big shock came by way of Punjab Kings (PBKS). PBKS showed the most overall increase of any team. From $101 million in 2024 to $141 million in 2025 is a stunning 39.6% hike. Conversely, Worth $122 million in 2024, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also now the least valuable franchise in recent history, and we believe they didn't fare as well, even with a respectable growth percentage of 34.1%.

What does this tell us about the nature of the IPL's finances? It reveals an ecosystem that is constantly evolving. Genuine on-field success paired with the smart, off-field marketing angles remains key to each franchise's overall commercial strength. With RCB finally hoisting the odd silverware, their position atop the valuation graphs feels justified, because they truly found out that having loyal fans and winning can, in fact, translate into brand power.

IPL Team Brand Values 2025 (Houlihan Lokey Report)

RankTeamBrand Value (2024)Brand Value (2025)Growth (%)
1RCB$227 mn$269 mn18.5%
2MI$204 mn$242 mn18.6%
3CSK$231 mn$235 mn1.7%
4KKR$216 mn$227 mn5.1%
5SRH$132 mn$154 mn16.7%
6DC$131 mn$152 mn16%
7RR$133 mn$146 mn9.8%
8GT$124 mn$142 mn14.5%
9PBKS$101 mn$141 mn39.6%
10LSG$91 mn$122 mn34.1%
 
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<![CDATA[The day when Cheteshwar Pujara made IPL fifty during RCB vs PBKS match]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/cheteshwar-pujara-s-solitary-ipl-fifty-for-rcb/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/cheteshwar-pujara-s-solitary-ipl-fifty-for-rcb/ Sun, 24 Aug 2025 20:42:17 GMT

Cheteshwar Pujara, known for his rock-solid defense, played few matches in the Indian Premier League. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the former India international had a half-century during IPL 2013. It was his only fifty in his entire IPL career. So, how's the IPL half century made by the 'Test specialist' Cheteshwar Pujara? 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings (RCB vs PBKS), IPL 2013: Pujara went on to register his solitary IPL fifty at Mohali. He was the opener of RCB with Chris Gayle on the other side of the crease—a combination of a hard hitter and a cool, composed batter. Both of the openers scored half centuries to provide RCB a solid foundation to build a towering total around.

Gayle scored 61 off 33 in style, while Pujara claimed 51 off 48 with a 106.25 strike rate, powered by 8 boundaries. The pair of Pujara and Gayle stitched an opening wicket partnership of 102 runs, and RCB put 190/3 on the scoreboard. AB de Villiers boosted up the run rate by scoring an unbeaten 38 off 19 deliveries.

Read More: 3 reasons KKR should replace Andre Russell with Cameron Green for IPL 2026

David Miller pulled the trigger to win the duel 

Pujara's half-century could have been more memorable if RCB had managed to win the game. But it was PBKS who left the field as the winner. In 18 overs, Kings successfully chase down the target with the help of David Miller's unbeaten 101-run innings. Miller was the man of the match for his dominating batting. 

Cheteshwar Pujara participated in 5 IPL seasons with 3 different teams. He made his IPL debut with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009, then he joined RCB and stayed there for three seasons before making a shift to Punjab Kings, where Pujara played his last IPL match in 2014. Throughout his IPL career, the right-handed batter played 30 matches to score a total of 390 runs at an average of 20.52. That 51-run innings against PBKS remained as his highest score. 

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<![CDATA[3 points why RCB must acquire the service of Shai Hope for IPL 2026]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/3-points-why-rcb-must-acquire-the-service-of-shai-hope-for-ipl-2026/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/3-points-why-rcb-must-acquire-the-service-of-shai-hope-for-ipl-2026/ Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:18:23 GMT

When Shai Hope is in flow, destruction is guaranteed. The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons is the latest victim of his ruthless batting. Without any doubt, in-form Shai Hope is always a joy to watch. It was a surprise when no franchise was interested in acquiring the service of the West Indian batsman for IPL 2025. 

During the 9th game of the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the right-handed batter played an 82-run innings against 54 balls. During this carnage he smashed six boundaries and five over boundaries. With this batting style and aggressive nature, the Barbados-born can be an easy fit for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2026. 

3 points why RCB should sign Shai Hope:

Batting Depth: Shai Hope's inclusion in the squad will instantly boost up the batting strength and also will be a good option as a regular wicketkeeper. Though RCB already has Jitesh Sharma in their squad, so if they rope in Shai, then he may have to play only as a batsman. In his form, the swashbuckling batter can be equally useful against spinners and pacers. In recent times, length deliveries have become a go-tooption for fast bowlers in the IPL. Hope has the antidote in his bag against those length balls. 

Read More: Who is Smaran Ravichandran, the batter who hit 3 sixes on a trot during 2025 Maharaja Trophy T20

A Good Option from the Bench: Despite his prolific batting skills, Hope's inconsistency remains a concern. For that reason, RCB can utilize him as a replacement. In the last IPL season, they had to go with Liam Livingston or Romario Shepherd, who were too inconsistent. Livingston finished the IPL 2025 campaign with only a batting average of 16.00 in 8 innings. If the franchise is ready to sacrifice a foreign batting all-rounder, then they must keep an eye on Shai Hope. 

Wrecker-in-chief: At any moment, the West Indian batter can turn into a wrecker-in-chief, like he did during Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. If he is able to find the sweet spot, then even top bowlers in the IPL can start to see nightmares on the ground. For a successful season, every team needs an 'X'-factor; Shai Hope can be the 'X-factor' for the IPL 2025 champions. 

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<![CDATA['Using the money we didn’t spend on Yuzi...'- RCB director reveals their thoughts during IPL 2025 mega auction]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/using-the-money-we-didn-t-spend-on-yuzi-rcb-director-reveals-their-thoughts-during-ipl-2025-mega-auction/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/using-the-money-we-didn-t-spend-on-yuzi-rcb-director-reveals-their-thoughts-during-ipl-2025-mega-auction/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:32:22 GMT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) director Mo Bobat revealed an interesting fact about their bidding strategy for the IPL 2025 mega auction. RCB went too far to acquire the service of Venkatesh Iyer, but it was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who finally won the war of price. Iyer sold to KKR for a staggering INR 23.75 crores.

RCB raised their paddle for up to INR 23.50. The Indian all-rounder got massive success in the previous season's IPL but proved to be one of the biggest flops in the 2025 Indian Premier League. Now, Bobat clearly discussed why they were chasing KKR to get Iyer in their squad. He said that they could get Iyer's service for 14 to 15 crores maximum. But when the bidding war was ignited, the situation was beyond their expectations. Still, they were not worried about the unexpected high price, because they tried to use the money they did not use for Yuzvendra Chahal. 

"Our original budget was something like 14 or 15 for him, as probably a maximum number, hoping we'd get him for less than that. And then, obviously, the bidding gets a little bit out of control. When we were bidding, we were thinking we still weren't compromising the rest of our squad, because we're just using the money we didn't spend on Yuzi. And then we did get closer to a point where we weren't just spending the Venky Iyer budget and the money we didn't spend on Yuzi," RCB director Mo Bobat said. 

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They talked with Iyer before

"Venky was someone we were really interested in. Andy and I and DK met him before the auction. He's a player that we like in terms of his skills. He's a character that I really respect. I think he would have been another one of those really senior, leaderful kind of characters that we recruited. So, we were really keen on him."

Notably, Chahal went to Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 18 crores in the IPL 2025 auction. The experienced spinner was with RCB from 2014 to 2021, 8 long years. 

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<![CDATA[Jitesh Sharma likely to include in Asia Cup 2025 squad: Report ]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/jitesh-sharma-likely-to-include-in-asia-cup-2025-squad-report/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/jitesh-sharma-likely-to-include-in-asia-cup-2025-squad-report/ Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:49:11 GMT

With multiple capable keeper-batters in contention, BCCI has to solve a serious puzzle: who will make the final cut ahead of the Asia Cup 2025?

In the recent past, multiple wicketkeeping options emerged in Indian cricket; some of them donned the blue jersey as well. Players like Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Ishan Kishan, and Jitesh Sharma were selected for international duties because of their promising runs in domestic cricket. In a squad, 4 or 5 keeper-batters do not sound quite natural. Depending on batting combinations and recent numbers, only one can join the first XI with a proper backup on the bench.

As per the recent report, Jitesh Sharma can join the Asia Cup 2025 squad. But he may not be considered as the number 1 keeper for the squad. According to reports, Sharma can be selected as a backup wicketkeeper in the squad. If Sharma remains on the bench, then the question remains, who will be the first-choice keeper for Team India for the Asia Cup 2025? Jitesh Sharma, after playing some matches for Team India, remains with a bunch of modest stats: 9 T20Is, 100 runs in total, and 14.28 as the average. He played his last T20I for India in January 2023.

Read More: 'Siraj has a workload too...'- Irfan Pathan heavily criticised Jasprit Bumrah's workload management issue

Jitesh looked promising 

In more than a year, the right-handed batter has become more mature. One of his finest innings came when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was in deep trouble against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during an IPL 2025 match. In the 70th match of the season, LSG scored a mammoth 227 runs in the first innings. RCB, the team that later emerged as the IPL 2025 champion, was under pressure. 

Jitesh was the stand by captain of the game, came to the crease as the number 6 batter, and played a match-turning knock. Against 33 deliveries, he scored an unbeaten 85 with six 6s and eight 4s. RCB won the match by 6 wickets and 8 balls to spare. This match can hold a primary example of how the Maharashtra-born has upgraded himself over the last few years. 

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<![CDATA[AB de Villiers applauds Brevis’s record ton, calls CSK signing a masterstroke]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ab-de-villiers-applauds-brevis-s-record-ton-calls-csk-signing-a-masterstroke/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ab-de-villiers-applauds-brevis-s-record-ton-calls-csk-signing-a-masterstroke/ Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:38:41 GMT

South African prodigy Dewald Brevis produced a knock for the ages on Tuesday, August 12, lighting up the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin with a breathtaking 41-ball hundred in the second T20I against Australia. At just 22, Brevis became the youngest South African to score a T20I century and the fastest ever against Australia in the format.

Walking in at No.4, Brevis wasted no time announcing his intent. He dispatched Glenn Maxwell for his first six in the seventh over, and later tore into the Aussie all-rounder in the 12th, plundering 23 runs off five balls. Against an attack featuring Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, Brevis’s range of strokes left the home side helpless as he raced to three figures with eight sixes and nine boundaries. He finished unbeaten on 125 off 56 balls, powering South Africa to 218/7.

His whirlwind effort also made him just the eighth South African man to hit a T20I hundred, joining an elite list that includes David Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Faf du Plessis. Only Miller’s 35-ball blitz against Bangladesh in 2017 has been faster for the Proteas.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Aiden Markram pulls Josh Hazlewood for massive six during AUS vs SA 2nd T20I match

CSK’s Auction Gamble Looks Like a Golden Masterstroke After Brevis’s Record-Breaking Hundred

The innings drew instant praise from AB de Villiers, who couldn’t hide both his admiration and his envy over Brevis’s IPL allegiance. “There was such a golden opportunity for IPL teams to pick up Dewald Brevis at the auction! Missed out badly. CSK either got very lucky or maybe pulled off the biggest masterstroke ever. The boy can play,” de Villiers posted on X.

A Royal Challengers Bangalore legend, de Villiers admitted he would have loved to see Brevis in RCB colours, but believes the youngster could be South Africa’s next “360-degree” batting sensation. Brevis, for his part, called it an honour to be compared to his idol but stressed his determination to create his own identity.

Brevis had already impressed in IPL 2025 with Chennai Super Kings, including a match-winning half-century against Gujarat Titans. Now, with a record-breaking T20I hundred against one of the toughest bowling attacks in the game, he has made it clear that his rise is only beginning. If CSK’s decision to sign him was seen as a gamble at the auction, it’s looking more and more like the kind of move that could define a season – and maybe an era.

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<![CDATA[Fan with Rajat Patidar’s SIM reveals conversations with Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/fan-with-rajat-patidar-s-sim-reveals-conversations-with-virat-kohli-ab-de-villiers/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/fan-with-rajat-patidar-s-sim-reveals-conversations-with-virat-kohli-ab-de-villiers/ Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:53:35 GMT

The village boy from Chattisgarh, who got Rajat Patidar's inactive SIM card, shared about his experiences of receiving phone calls from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Kohli, Villiers- Royal connections of Patidar were not aware of the fact that the phone number once belonged to Rajat and is now in the hands of another person. That too is because of protocols from the telecom service provider.

Manish and his friend Khemraj are now treated like celebrities in their village, as they were fortunate enough to talk with stars like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Many crazy people can only dream about watching Virat or other star players right in front of their eyes, while Manish and Khemraj talk with their hero over the phone, which was no less than winning a hefty lottery for them. Manish and Khemraj now share their experience of talking with the cricket royals—what Virat Kohli said, what AB de Villiers said, etc. 

"I never imagined I would speak to Virat Kohli one day, and that too from our village. When AB de Villiers called, he spoke in English. We couldn't understand a word, but we were so thrilled. When Manish used to get calls, he would hand over the phone to me. The callers who identified themselves as Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal asked us why we were using Patidar's number. We explained to them we had bought a new SIM, and this is our number," Khemraj.

Read More: WATCH: Harry Brook replicates Rishabh Pant's famous backflip celebration on field

Patidar seek help from police 

According to media reports, Rajat Patidar also called them to recover the SIM card mostly because of the contact base and privacy concerns. That number also had a WhatsApp, where Manish and Khemraj saw Patidar's photo in the profile picture. When phone calls from the cricketers started to come, they thought that it might be some kind of joke or prank. Even when Patidar called, they were not ready to believe the seriousness of the matter.

With no option in hand, Patidar called police to sort out the matter. Police went to their doorstep and recovered the SIM card. Gariaband Deputy Superintendent of Police Neha Sinha stated that there was no legal issue, as the case was a result of standard telecom procedures. 

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<![CDATA[Chhattisgarh boy receives calls from Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers in strange incident]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/chhattisgarh-boy-receives-calls-from-virat-kohli-and-ab-de-villiers-in-strange-incident/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/chhattisgarh-boy-receives-calls-from-virat-kohli-and-ab-de-villiers-in-strange-incident/ Sun, 10 Aug 2025 15:11:09 GMT

For someone, maybe the incident is funny, but for Rajat Patidar, it was a trouble, a bizarre trouble. To solve it, he had to call the police for help. The whole episode happened only because of an inactive SIM card and the protocols of a telecom service provider. 

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who helped the team earn their maiden IPL title, had a sim card, which he did not use for about three months. As per protocols, the telecom service provider deactivated the SIM card and sold it again.

The number once belonged to Patidar and went to a teenager named Manish from Gariaband, Chhattisgarh. When he started to use the sim card in June, Manish started to get some phone calls, which he never expected. The number is also linked with a WhatsApp account that had a profile picture of Rajat Patidar. 

Read More: 'Rishabh Pant is a..' - Gulbadin Naib describes Rishab Pant's thought process during IPL

'And we're MS Dhoni'

Manish started to get phone calls from Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and many others related to cricket. Manish thought that that was a part of some kind of prank or joke. So, he started to neglect the calls. Patidar's contacts were not aware of the fact that the phone number had by then been changed and belonged to a new owner. Manish also did not believe that those calls were actually from cricket royals. Manish and his friend Khemraj thought it was hilarious and started to joke about it. 

Eventually Rajat Patidar himself dialed up the number to reclaim the SIM card. He tried to explain to Manish that he was the real Rajat Patidar who played cricket and why the number was important for him. Only explanations and claims were not enough to convince Manish, so, in a hilarious sense, he replied back to Patidar, "And we're MS Dhoni." They left Patidar without any option but to seek help from police. A few minutes later, local police reached Manish's doorstep to recover the SIM card. Then, Manish realized that it was actually Patidar and understood the seriousness of the situation. 

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<![CDATA[Yash Dayal Banned from UPT20 2025? Know the Truth Behind Sexual Exploitation Allegations]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/yash-dayal-banned-from-upt20-2025-know-the-truth-behind-sexual-exploitation-allegations/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/yash-dayal-banned-from-upt20-2025-know-the-truth-behind-sexual-exploitation-allegations/ Sat, 09 Aug 2025 15:52:24 GMT

In a major development, trouble doesn’t seem to be ending soon for RCB pacer Yash Dayal. The left-arm seamer is most likely to be banned from playing in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2025. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is closely monitoring the accusations against Dayal and has decided not to allow him to take part in their premier T20 league.

This decision comes after an FIR was lodged against him at Jaipur’s Sanganer Sadar Police Station in July, accusing the cricketer of raping a 17-year-old minor. Dayal was last seen in action in May as part of the IPL 2025 trophy-winning RCB team. Jaipur Police has registered a case against him under the POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code (BNS). This news has come as a shock to cricket fans.

Yash Dayal Banned from UPT20 2025

As per Dainik Jagran, Yash Dayal, who was bought for ₹7 lakh by the Gorakhpur Lions, has been banned by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) from playing in the UP T20 League 2025. Before the complaint lodged in Jaipur, an FIR was already registered against him in Ghaziabad for alleged sexual exploitation on the promise of marriage.

Also Read -The Hundred 2025 5th Match:OVI VS MNR Players to watch out

UPCA sources told the publication that Dayal was banned from the league due to these cases. However, the Gorakhpur Lions’ owners said they had not yet received any formal order from the UPCA. The UPCA claimed they had warned the franchise not to allow Dayal to play. The franchise said that while Dayal’s name is still on the team list, they will take action if a formal directive is issued.

In the Ghaziabad FIR, the complaint was first submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s grievance portal on June 21. Later, a formal FIR was filed. The Allahabad High Court then ordered a stay on Yash Dayal’s arrest.

Fresh Allegations from Jaipur

A second FIR was lodged in Jaipur, claiming that Dayal exploited a 17-year-old minor for two years, promising her a future in professional cricket. The girl alleged that she was emotionally blackmailed and tortured during this time.

In the Ghaziabad case, the woman alleged she had been in a relationship with Dayal for five years. She claimed the RCB pacer promised to marry her but backed out, causing her emotional and physical harm. Recently, the Jaipur court denied interim protection to Dayal. Justice Sudesh Bansal, who is hearing the case, said the next hearing will be on August 22.

Past Controversy

This is not the first time Dayal has been in the news for negative reasons. Two years ago, he was accused of posting objectionable communal content on Instagram. Dayal later clarified that the post was made from his account but was not uploaded by him. Right now, legal action is ongoing, and Yash Dayal’s cricket career remains uncertain.

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<![CDATA[Yash Dayal to miss T20 league due to recent allegations of sexual harrashment]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/yash-dayal-to-miss-t20-league-due-to-recent-allegations-of-sexual-harrashment/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/yash-dayal-to-miss-t20-league-due-to-recent-allegations-of-sexual-harrashment/ Sat, 09 Aug 2025 13:56:33 GMT

The last hearing at the court came as some fresh air for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Yash Dayal. Now, from the latest reports, it can be surely said that the emerging cricket may have to face more troubles in the upcoming days.

Fresh media reports suggested that because of allegations of sexual exploitation, the UP Cricket Association (UCA) is all set to ban Yash Dayal from the upcoming Uttar Pradesh T20 League (UPT20 2025). For this season of the UPT20 league, Dayal joined the Gorakhpur Lions for the lucrative amount of Rs 7 lakh. But after this development, his future in the league is now in a dilemma.

The decision taken by the UP Cricket Association comes after an FIR was lodged against him at Jaipur’s Sanganer Sadar Police Station earlier in July. The talented cricketer is accused of raping a 17-year-old minor girl. After the cases registered against Yash Dayal, the cricket governing board of Uttar Pradesh decided to ban the bowler.

Read More: Sanju Samson to join CSK, RR can rope in Ravichandran Ashwin: Report

Dayal's future in UPT20 2025 is under review 

The UPT20 franchise that signed Dayal provided a different statement to the media. According to the reports, Gorakhpur Lions owners had not received any such directive from the UPCA. But, as long as the RCB star is their registered player, they would take necessary steps according to the situations. 

Though the governing body informed them that they had warned the franchise to prohibit the cricketer from the upcoming edition of the tournament. When Dayal was heading after facing the first FIR, another FIR was lodged from another side in Jaipur, claiming that Dayal exploited the minor over two years. 

Court's observation 

The Allahabad High Court puts a hold on his arrest in a case involving alleged misconduct in a relationship. The court's view came as a breather for the emerging cricketer. The court made a strong observation by saying, "You can be fooled for a day or two… but not for 5 years." The Court also tried to put some light on the timing of the complaint. The allegation of misconduct in a relationship against Dayal headlined just after RCB's IPL 2025 triumph, during the rise of the talented cricketer in the franchise league.

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