RCB will get a new owner before the next IPL season.Image Credit source: PTI
A big moment is about to be added to the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) because Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), one of the oldest and most famous franchises of the league, is going to be sold. Its owner Diageo has started preparations to sell the current IPL champion RCB and is hoping to sell it by March 31 next year. Some reports have claimed that the value of RCB has been estimated to be around $2 billion. But who will be the new owner of RCB? Which company will get a chance to associate its name with this superhit franchise? It is being told that there are 5 big companies in this race, including Adani Group, one of the largest industrial houses of the country.
Adani Group will enter IPL?
A Cricbuzz report has revealed that the country’s second richest industrialist Gautam Adani is showing his interest in buying this franchise and can bid for it. Gautam Adani had tried to buy IPL franchise earlier also. When BCCI had announced to start two new teams after the 2021 season, Adani Group had bid for the franchise of Ahmedabad but it was not successful. However, Adani Group, with a market capitalization of around Rs 17 lakh crore, is the owner of the Gujarat Giants franchise in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Will you be able to buy Poonawala at the right price?
At the same time, Adar Poonawala, owner of Serum Institute of India (SII), a giant Indian company famous for making vaccines worldwide, has also shown his interest in buying this franchise and is in the race. Poonawala himself had announced in a social media post that RCB can prove to be a good team at the right price. Poonawala is the CEO of SII and the value of this company is more than Rs 2 lakh crore.
Will JSW leave Delhi and join Bengaluru?
Jindal Group is also in the race to buy this franchise. Sajjan Jindal’s company JSW is already involved in IPL and WPL, where it is the co-owner of Delhi Capitals. This company runs the franchise in Delhi Capitals in collaboration with GMR Group. But now it seems that JSW wants to completely buy the Bengaluru franchise and in doing so it will sell its stake in Delhi Capitals. A major reason for JSW’s interest is its relationship with Bengaluru. JSW Group, worth about Rs 3 lakh crore, is already running Bengaluru Football Club and in such a situation, it can completely make its identity in the city through RCB.
2 more companies join the race
Apart from all this, the country’s big industrialist Ravi Jaipuria can also stake claim to buy RCB. Ravi Jaipuria’s company Devyani International runs a chain of famous American fast food brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee in the country. Apart from this, he also makes bottles for Pepsi through Varun Beverages Company. Jaipuria has not had any part in any sports franchise before. At the same time, a private investment company of America is also expressing interest in purchasing this franchise. However, the name or any identity of this group has not been made public yet.