The RCB franchise is seeking a valuation of around $2 billion, with several high-profile business groups showing interest.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be heading for a big shake-up as two of its most popular teams are reportedly up for sale. Just days after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) confirmed its sale, a new report now suggests that the 2008 champions, Rajasthan Royals (RR), are also looking for new owners. This potential double sale could redefine team ownership in the world's richest cricket league.
The rumor was set ablaze by a prominent industrialist with direct links to the IPL. Harsha Goenka, the elder brother of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka, took to social media platform X to make a significant claim. He posted, “I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale- RCB and RR." He suggested that current owners are looking to capitalize on the league's soaring valuations and indicated strong interest from four or five potential buyer groups from cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, and even from the USA.
The sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru is already a confirmed process. On November 5, Diageo, the parent company of United Spirits Limited which owns RCB, officially announced it had initiated the sale. The first hint of this blockbuster move came from Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, in an October social media post. According to a stock exchange filing, the company expects the high-profile sale to be completed by March 31, 2026, setting a clear timeline for the transaction.
The question on everyone's mind is: what is the price tag for a team like RCB? The numbers being discussed are staggering. Reports indicate that the owners are seeking a massive $2 billion for the 2025 IPL champions. For context, a Forbes report from 2022 valued the franchise at just over $1 billion. That valuation is from three years ago and was made before RCB won its first title this season, a victory that has surely boosted its brand and financial value.
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A high-profile consortium is emerging, backed by some of India’s biggest business personalities. Reports indicate that Nikhil Kamath, Mohandas Pai, and Adar Poonawalla may together make a bid for RCB. Their collective wealth, running into billions of dollars, gives them substantial strength in the competition.
While RCB’s sale process is official, the situation with Rajasthan Royals is still based on reports. The Jaipur franchise is mainly owned by the Royals Sports Group, with minority shareholders like Lachlan Murdoch and RedBird Capital Partners. If a sale happens, it would be a major shift for one of the league’s original teams, adding to the scale of changes in IPL ownership.
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