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As many as six parties are reportedly keen on buying IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Virat Kohli celebrates with the IPL trophy. (PTI Photo)
IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are seeking a brand new owner and, reportedly, as many as six high-profile parties have shown interest. Nonetheless, Diageo Great Britain, the parent company that currently owns RCB, might find yourself making a U-turn should its Indian arm, which shouldn’t be in favour of the sale, manage to persuade it not to dump the franchise.
In response to a report in Cricbuzz, among the many Indian and American entities to have held conversations with Diageo regarding the potential sale of RCB are Adani Group, JSW Group, and Adar Poonawalla.
Two private American-based equity firms are also mulling over buying the IPL franchise.
Adani Group was among the many top bidders for the Ahmedabad-based IPL franchise in 2022. Nonetheless, it narrowly missed out to CVC Capital Partners.
The present owners reportedly are quoting USD 2 billion for RCB.
Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, is reportedly in negotiations with Diageo Plc to buy RCB and earlier this month, he fuelled the rumours with a post on social media. “At the precise valuation, @RCBTweets is an ideal team…(sic),” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
This isn’t the primary time that the Poonawalla family has shown interest in owning an IPL team. When the IPL was expanded from eight to 10 teams for the primary time in 2010, Cyrus Poonawalla, Adar’s father, had purchased the Invitation to Tender (ITT). Nonetheless, the bids were eventually won by Sahara and Rendezvous Sports.
Jindal To Exit DC?
Moreover, if Parth Jindal, the present co-owner of Delhi Capitals, should find yourself showing serious interest, he could have to exit DC. Jindal Group owns a 50 per cent stake in DC. With co-owner GMR Group, JSW Sports has an agreement to run the DC on a two-year rotational basis.
As per Houlihan Lokey’s IPL Valuation Study 2025, RCB was rated because the most useful brand among the many 10 franchises.
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He launched into his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He launched into his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
October 17, 2025, 14:07 IST
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