There have been increasing rumors about the sale of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise after a cryptic but unequivocal tweet by Adar Poonawalla, Chairman of Poonawalla Fincorp. The sale comes just four months after the team had won its first-ever IPL trophy, sending the cricketing world into shock.
In recent days, speculation has been focused on Poonawalla’s interest in buying the titleholders. On Wednesday afternoon, Poonawalla half-confirmed the rumors, tweeting, “At the right valuation, @RCBTweets is a great team.” This public hint has stoked news that he has opened formal talks with the existing owners of the team.
Diageo Seeks $2 Billion Valuation
The franchise for Royal Challengers Bengaluru is owned by Diageo Plc indirectly through its subsidiary United Sports. It reportedly wants a whopping valuation of $2 billion for the team. This valuation is a reflection of the large market standing of the franchise; RCB was classified as the most valuable team both on and off the pitch this year, as per Houlihan Lokey’s IPL Valuation Study 2025.
At the right valuation, @RCBTweets is a great team…
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) October 1, 2025
Sources indicate that Poonawalla is in advanced negotiations with Diageo about the possible acquisition. But an important question mark still hangs: whether Diageo plans to sell its whole interest in the franchise or merely a controlling interest.
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Lalit Modi Hints at Owners’ Intent
The rumor picked up momentum during the week when Lalit Modi, the former commissioner of the Indian Premier League, hinted at a possible sale. Modi, on Monday night, indicated that the current owners were seeking to sell the team, perhaps to free up their balance sheet.
There have been a lot of rumour about the sale of an @IPL franchise specifically @RCBTweets – well in the past they have been denied. But it seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it. I am sure having won the IPL last season and also… pic.twitter.com/ecXfU5n5v5
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) September 29, 2025
Modi tweeted, “There have been plenty of rumors regarding the sale of an @IPL franchise, namely @RCBTweets—well, earlier they were denied. But now the owners seem to have decided to remove it from their balance sheet and sell it.” Modi’s post was accompanied by posting a news item connecting Virat Kohli’s Bengaluru team directly to Poonawalla buying rumors.
If the sale goes through, it will be one of the most prominent ownership changes in IPL history, reshaping the dynamics for the most valuable team in the league. The next few weeks should cut through if Adar Poonawalla is able to meet the lofty $2 billion valuation and seal the champion franchise deal.
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