Vaibhav Gehlot steps down as RCA chief in wake up no-confidence motion

In a surprising turn of events, Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) chief Vaibhav Gehlot has resigned, throwing the cricketing fraternity into a state of bewilderment. Gehlot's resignation comes in the wake of a no-confidence motion against him, a development he claims to be blindsided by.

The saga began on February 23, when the Rajasthan Sports Council (RSC) decided to lock the RCA premises. Just a few days earlier, on February 19, the RSC issued a notice to the RCA, asserting that their agreement regarding the Rajasthan Cricket Academy and the SMS Stadium had expired on February 21. The RSC demanded the return of control over the facilities, effectively preventing the RCA from using the cricket ground and its associated offices.

Gehlot, the scion of the political Gehlot family, expressed his belief that this action was fueled by vengeance following a change in the government. He asserted that no RCA office-bearer had approached him with any disagreements, and he would have resigned earlier had there been any such indication.

“For me, this post is not important, but the cricket in Rajasthan and the future of players is important. I will never let this be harmed. I will always be available in the future for the interest of Rajasthan cricket, cricketers, and cricket lovers," said Gehlot, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The former RCA chief highlighted his efforts to expand cricket beyond Jaipur, mentioning the renovation of the stadium in Jodhpur and the initiation of work on a world-class stadium in Udaipur. Gehlot clarified that due to the absence of its own stadium, RCA had signed an agreement with the state government to use the SMS Stadium, where international matches were played. Additionally, he mentioned the ongoing construction of a cricket stadium on the Jaipur-Delhi highway in collaboration with the Vedanta Group.

Gehlot resigned in reaction to the Rajasthan Sports Council's quick decision to lock the RCA premises. Voicing worries about the future of cricket in the state, he deemed it unacceptable for IPL matches or cricket in general to be jeopardised. In a bid to protect the game and its players from potential harm, he chose to step down from his position.

 “This action has indicated that the positive atmosphere we have created for cricket is getting damaged. It is intolerable for me that IPL matches in the state should be at risk or cricket should suffer. To safeguard the game and the players from this situation, I am tendering my resignation," Gehlot added.

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While Gehlot cited his commitment to promoting cricket and connecting youngsters to the game, RSC secretary Sohan Ram Choudhary alleged that the RCA had not paid dues totalling INR 3 crore for several years. Choudhary claimed that numerous notices were sent, but the RCA failed to respond. The abrupt resignation of Gehlot leaves many questions unanswered, signalling a period of uncertainty for cricket in Rajasthan.