Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which is owned by United Spirits Limited, has listed the Indian Premier League team for sale. The CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, is the “frontrunner” to purchase USL’s whole interest in the franchise, as per an report by CNBC TV18. Diageo, a multinational alcoholic beverage corporation based in London, is the parent company of USL. It wants to be valued at an astounding $2 billion, or around Rs. 17,762 crore.
In such case, RCB would rank among the most valuable sports organizations globally. The deal advisor is the international investment bank Citi.
Since the horrific stampede in Bengaluru during the team’s celebration for winning its first-ever IPL trophy, which claimed 11 lives, there have been speculations that Diageo is open to a sale. Nonetheless, it is a step forward that sellers are emerging and logistics are being figured out.
“RCB is an exciting business, but it is non-core for Diageo,” Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO of Diageo India, told CNBC-TV18 earlier this month.
Despite never having won a trophy, RCB was already one of the most well-liked and marketable teams in the world, therefore their victory in the IPL 2025 was viewed as revolutionary. The majority of it was because they were able to keep Virat Kohli, the top men’s cricket star in India, who has already dedicated his remaining years to the team.
It will not be an IPL team’s first significant sale. Irelia Company Pte Ltd, a company entirely owned by funds advised by CVC Capital, recently agreed in writing to sell Gujarat Titans (GT) to Torrent Group for a 67% majority ownership. GT, a four-year-old brand with a smaller fan base than RCB, was valued at about ₹7,500 crore in that purchase.
Lalit Modi, the former IPL commissioner, had stoked speculation about a potential sale earlier in the day.
“There have been a lot of rumours about the sale of an IPL franchise. 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 with its strong base of fans and great management, it could be the only team available as a whole. One of the big global funds or sovereign funds would desperately like to have them as part of their India strategy. This will definitely set a new record valuation and become the floor price for all IPL teams. I am sure Citi will do a great job auctioning the team.”