After RCB, Rajasthan Royals Up For Sale Ahead Of IPL 2026: What’s Brewing in the IPL Market
Following RCB, Rajasthan Royals reportedly head for sale ahead of IPL 2026 as valuations soar and investors circle.
After RCB, Rajasthan Royals Up For Sale Ahead Of IPL 2026: Report
2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are reportedly up for sale ahead of the IPL 2026 season. In a surprising development, reports also suggest that Rajasthan Royals—the inaugural 2008 champions—may be looking for a change of ownership as well. The news has sparked massive discussion in the cricket and business community as team valuations continue to skyrocket.
Harsha Goenka’s Tweet Sparks Debate
Businessman Harsha Goenka, brother of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka, shared a post on X claiming that not one but two IPL teams – RCB and Rajasthan Royals – are up for sale.
He wrote: “I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale – RCB and RR. It seems clear that people want to cash in the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 possible buyers! Who will be the successful buyers – Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, or USA?”
Read more: NIA Makes Major Breakthrough With 7th Arrest In Delhi Blast Case
Rajasthan Royals Ownership Structure
Reports from 2024 indicated that Rajasthan Royals are owned by Royals Sports Group (Emerging Media Sporting Holdings Limited), holding a 65% majority stake. Minority investors include Lachlan Murdoch and RedBird Capital Partners.
The potential sale suggests a major shift in the franchise’s direction ahead of IPL 2026.
Read more: SC Asks If Aadhaar Card Is Enough For A Foreigner To Be Listed As Voter
RCB Targeting 2 Billion USD Valuation
On November 5, Diageo confirmed it had started the process to sell RCB, and the first hints surfaced via a social media post by industrialist Adar Poonawalla on October 1.
Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, is among the wealthiest business leaders globally, with an estimated family net worth of over $20 billion.
As per reports filed under SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements, the sale process is expected to conclude before March 31, 2026.
New Buyer Candidates Emerging
According to The Times of India, a consortium including Nikhil Kamath, TV Mohandas Pai and Adar Poonawalla may place a bid for the Bengaluru-based franchise.
Estimated net worths (Forbes estimates):
• Pai – $2.8 billion
• Kamath – $2.5 billion
A 2022 Forbes valuation pegged the RCB franchise slightly above $1 billion. With the team winning the IPL title in 2025, its valuation is expected to be significantly higher now.
Conclusion
The news of RCB and Rajasthan Royals potentially being up for sale ahead of IPL 2026 has created an intense buzz, signaling one of the biggest ownership shake-ups in IPL history. With multiple billion-dollar bidders in the race, the business landscape of the world’s most valuable cricket league could soon witness dramatic transformation.
We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join.
Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads.
