KL Rahul back to RCB: Karnataka billionaires interest to buy franchise

KL Rahul back to RCB: It has been formally reported that the current owners of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Diageo/United Spirits Limited) are initiating a strategic review of their investment and the franchise is officially up for sale, with the process expected to conclude by March 31, 2026, ahead of the IPL 2026 season. KL Rahul back to RCB: Karnataka billionaires interest to buy franchise.

The speculation about a “Kannadiga” owner is part of the general buzz around who the new owner might be, though no specific group has been officially confirmed yet. Several reports indicate that Bengaluru-based billionaires from Karnataka have shown serious interest. The most prominent names being discussed are:

Nikhil Kamath (Co-founder of Zerodha)

Ranjan Pai (Chairman of the Manipal Education and Medical Group)

Analysts suggest that any serious consortium bidding for RCB would benefit greatly from having a strong local face, or “Kannadiga” owner, to instantly connect with the team’s massive and passionate fanbase in the state.

The possibility of KL Rahul joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026 is being strongly linked to the potential new ownership, especially if a prominent Karnataka-based businessman or group purchases the franchise.

KL Rahul, who is currently playing for Delhi Capitals (DC), has repeatedly expressed his deep love for Bengaluru, calling it “home” and the Chinnaswamy Stadium his home ground. He started his IPL journey with RCB.

If a new owner with strong ties to Karnataka takes over, bringing back the state’s biggest cricketing star, KL Rahul, would be a massive strategic and emotional move to cement their ownership and gain immediate popularity with the fans.

While the speculation is intense, KL Rahul is under contract with DC, and any move would require a trade agreement or for him to be released into the mega-auction pool, which is likely to precede IPL 2026. The new owner would have a chance to build the squad essentially from scratch in the mega-auction.

In short, the purchase of RCB by a Karnataka-based businessman is widely seen as the most direct path to bringing the local star, KL Rahul, back to the Bengaluru franchise for the 2026 season.

Also Read: IPL 2026 BIG Trade: Sanju Samson to CSK and Ravindra Jadeja to RR