RR sale controversy: Kal Somani group alleges irregularities, to send legal notice to BCCI after Mittal-Poonawalla deal originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Rajasthan Royals sale faces legal threat from Kal Somani-led US consortium.
• Somani group blames RR management for deliberately delaying the finalisation process.
• Badale's continued role in the new setup was a major sticking point for buyers.
Rajasthan Royals sale sparks legal storm as rejected Kal Somani Group prepare to fight back
Kal Somani's consortium, which was reportedly within touching distance of completing the Rajasthan Royals acquisition for $1.63 billion before the sale was announced to a different set of buyers on Sunday, is preparing to take the matter to court.
Somani's consortium consists of fellow American businessman Rob Walton of Walmart and the Hamp family, the owners of the Detroit Lions.
According to Cicbuzz,the Somani group has already begun urgent consultations with their legal team.
"We have had calls this morning with legal and PR in the USA. We are deciding on our PR. A legal letter will be sent today," said a source close to Somani to Cricbuzz.
It has been suggested that a formal letter may also be directed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Both sides appear to be pointing fingers at each other over why the deal collapsed. The official version suggests that Somani failed to make payment within an agreed one-month exclusivity window, effectively voiding his position as the preferred buyer.
However, sources within the US camp paint an entirely different picture. They claim that nearly nine-tenths of the paperwork was still pending from the Rajasthan Royals side, and that the franchise management deliberately stretched out the process.
"They slow-dragged it," said the source. "They continued negotiations in good faith until the last second. With the Walton and Hamp families behind him, money was never an issue."
MORE: RR will reportedly be sold to Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla
Is Manoj Badale a factor behind the Somani derailment?
The Somani consortium had reservations about the role of Manoj Badale, the franchise's long-standing lead owner, who has been associated with Rajasthan Royals since the team's very first season in 2008.
Badale reportedly wished to retain a meaningful position within the ownership structure even after the sale, something the Somani-led group was unwilling to accept.
In contrast, the new buyers, the Mittal family and businessman Adar Poonawala, appear to have accommodated that request.
The Somani group has not yet decided how loudly to air its grievances, but that option remains firmly on the table.
"We will discuss it with our group if we are going to go publicly on the matter since litigation will be involved," said the source.
"We had queries such as whether the BCCI dues were paid. We wanted to know the status of legal cases. There were 100s of such questions. From our end we have been ready to close for 10 days. There was deliberate delay and then side dealings."
The Cricket News Opinion: A messy ending that raises bigger questions
Cricket franchise deals of this scale rarely collapse without leaving bruised egos and unanswered questions. What makes this particular situation uncomfortable is that both sides seem to have a point.
Transparency is not just good practice; it is what protects the credibility of Indian cricket's commercial ecosystem.
At the same time, franchise acquisitions involve complex legal and financial layers, and exclusivity clauses exist for a reason. If those terms were not met, the sellers had every right to explore other options.
What is clear is that this sale has left a trail of bad feelings. Whether that translates into a prolonged legal fight, one that drags the BCCI and the new owners into the middle, remains to be seen.
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