RCB Sale: These Business Tycoons eye on IPL most valuable franchise

RCB Sale: Indian Premier League (IPL) most valuable franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) owners Diageo Plc are considering selling the franchise, as the IPL team is considered a non-core business for the liquor giant. The reported valuation being sought is around $2 billion. RCB Sale: These Business Tycoons eye on IPL most valuable franchise.

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has also publicly stated that the sale is likely and will set a new benchmark for franchise valuations. The timing is attributed to the all-time high brand value following the maiden IPL title and, in some reports, a desire by the owners to divest after a tragic stampede occurred during the team’s victory celebrations.

The news that the defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore team will be in the hands of new owners before the IPL 2026 tournament has been doing the rounds for a few days. According to Cricbuzz, six companies have offered to buy the RCB franchise, and it is said that the price has been fixed at around Rs 17,587 crore.

The RCB team is currently owned by Diageo. However, it is said that there is a different tone within the company to sell the current IPL champion RCB. Because it is said that the Indian branch of Diageo has opposed the sale of RCB, believing that the most popular IPL team is theirs.

However, according to a report by Cricbuzz, Serum Institute head Adar Poonawalla has expressed his desire to buy the franchise. Along with Poonawalla, JSW Group and Adani Group are also interested. A Delhi-based billionaire industrialist and two American private equity firms are also said to be interested in buying RCB.

The Adani Group has long been keen on buying a team in the IPL. In 2022, when the BCCI put up two new teams for sale, the Adani Group had bid to buy Gujarat, but the bid failed. This time, Adani Group is trying to buy the team. On the other hand, the Jindal Group owns 50 percent stake in Delhi Capitals. Therefore, if the Jindal Group bids for RCB, it will have to exit the Delhi franchise.

These five parties are interested to buy RCB:

1. Adar Poonawalla (CEO of Serum Institute of India), who is reportedly the frontrunner.

2. The Adani Group, which has a known interest in acquiring an IPL franchise.

3. Parth Jindal (JSW Group), a co-owner of the Delhi Capitals, who would have to divest his stake in DC to acquire RCB due to BCCI’s cross-ownership regulations.

4. A Delhi-based tycoon with multi-sector interests.

5. Two US-based private equity firms.

Also Read: Virat Kohli plans to quit RCB before IPL 2026 Auction