Ex-player makes explosive claims on fixing 5 CSK matches in IPL 2025, alleges sharing playing XIs with bookies: Tehelka report

Ex-player makes explosive claims on fixing 5 CSK matches in IPL 2025, alleges sharing playing XIs with bookies: Tehelka report originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

An undercover investigation by Tehelka has alleged a network of corruption involving the DPL and IPL.

Former Ranji player Rachit Bhatia allegedly told an undercover reporter he had leaked the Chennai Super Kings' playing XI to bookies during IPL 2025.

The DDCA has responded, stating that the allegations are unverified and that no competent authority has established them.

Advertisement

Match-fixing claims strike Indian Premier League again

An investigation published by Tehelka has raised serious corruption allegations in Indian domestic and franchise cricket, centred on a former Ranji player, Rachit Bhatia.

According to the report, Tehelka's Special Investigation Team conducted an undercover sting in which a reporter posed as a bookmaker for several months, from December 2025 to August 2026.

The report said that Bhatia had revealed having offered what the outlet describes as inside information on playing XIs, along with claims of past spot-fixing and selection bribery, across multiple conversations with the undercover reporter.

Advertisement

It is important to stress at the outset that these are allegations contained in a single media investigation. Furthermore, the claims described below remain unverified and unestablished by any court, the BCCI, the ICC, or law enforcement at this stage.

The report has since drawn a response from the Delhi and District Cricket Association, which organises the Delhi Premier League, while the BCCI has yet to issue any official comment.

MORE: 'Flat track bullies': Fans slam India as they narrowly beat minnows Japan

What the Tehelka report alleges about IPL 2025 and CSK

According to the report, Bhatia told the undercover reporter that he had passed on the Chennai Super Kings' playing XI information to London-based bookmakers during the 2025 IPL season, allegedly using Snapchat to communicate.

Advertisement

As per the report, Bhatia said he was paid Rs 60 lakh per match for this information over five matches, totalling Rs 3 crore.

Bhatia reportedly claimed that this information came from a contact within the CSK squad. Notably, Tehelka's own report does not name the player allegedly involved.

Some other outlets covering the story have since referenced CSK and Central Delhi Kings batter Vansh Bedi in connection with the report. Though it was strictly in the context of Bedi having reported a bookie's approach to the sport's anti-corruption unit, according to a Times of India report.

Further, Bedi has released a statement calling the links to him "highly defamatory" and outright dismissing the allegations.

According to the report, Bhatia also claimed he could arrange similar access to CSK's playing XI for the 2026 IPL season if a player he knew was picked in the auction, and that he intended to replicate the arrangement in the DPL afterwards.

Advertisement

MORE: IND vs JPN one-off T20I 2026 scorecard, result and highlights as Japan miss out on historic win

What the Tehelka report alleges about the DPL

The report describes what it calls "line-up leaks," where a team's playing XI is allegedly shared with bookmakers before its official announcement at the toss.

According to the report, Bhatia offered to provide this information for Central Delhi Kings' matches in the 2026 DPL season, initially quoting Rs 40 lakh per match before the price was reportedly negotiated down.

As per the report, Bhatia provided information ahead of two Central Delhi Kings matches that did not match the officially announced XI, which he is said to have attributed to late changes.

Advertisement

The report claims that ahead of a third match, against North Delhi Strikers on August 3, 2026, the information he provided matched the officially announced playing XI.

The payment allegedly settled at Rs 3 lakh, according to the report. The report also alleges that Bhatia discussed the possibility of spot-fixing in future matches of the Central Delhi Kings.

This includes what he is quoted as describing as an attempt to arrange a run-out, and he separately claimed he had previously engaged in spot-fixing himself.

According to the report, Bhatia bowled two deliberate wide balls during the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in exchange for payment from bookmakers. The report also states he played his domestic cricket for Nagaland.

Advertisement

Separately, the report alleges that Bhatia claimed he paid a bribe to secure his own Ranji Trophy selection for Nagaland in 2018-19.

It further claimed, in his stated capacity as a school-level selector and coach in Delhi, that selection for school cricket teams across various age groups could be secured for payment. These claims, like the others, have not been independently verified.

MORE: Japan almost pulls off cricket's greatest upset ever vs India

Have the DDCA or BCCI said anything on the match-fixing allegations?

In response to the report, the DDCA issued a statement urging caution before anyone draws any conclusions.

Advertisement

"DDCA would like to clarify that the allegations referred to in these reports are unverified and have not been established by any competent authority," the statement read.

"The association believes it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about any individual, player or franchise based solely on such allegations," the DDCA added.

The BCCI has not yet issued a public statement on the matter.

Click here to read article