Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL team ownership change: Bigwigs, corporate giants in fray!

The defending IPL champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), could soon see a change in ownership. Reports suggest that Diageo, the parent company of United Spirits, is looking to sell the franchise before the IPL 2026 season.

Having owned RCB for over a decade, Diageo, a global liquor giant, reportedly wants to step away from the cricket business, as owning an IPL team doesn’t align with its core alcohol-based portfolio.

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Though Diageo has attempted to sell the team before, no deal has materialised yet. The company is said to be demanding a hefty $2 billion (Rs 16,000 crore) valuation for the franchise, possibly waiting for the next media rights cycle to further increase RCB’s market value. However, sources indicate growing shareholder pressure to finalise a sale soon.

Corporate Giants Eye the RCB Deal

Several big names have already shown interest in buying the Bengaluru-based team. Leading the race are Adani Group, JSW Group, and Adar Poonawalla (Serum Institute of India). Additionally, a Delhi-based billionaire and two US-based private equity firms are also said to be in the mix.

While Adani Group has made multiple unsuccessful bids in past IPL team auctions, JSW Group already owns a 50% stake in Delhi Capitals and would have to offload that to acquire RCB. Meanwhile, Adar Poonawalla, who once tried to buy a franchise in 2010, seems ready for another attempt, even hinting at it in a recent tweet.

With RCB’s soaring brand value and a massive fan following, the upcoming sale could turn out to be one of the biggest deals in IPL history.