Indian Billionaire Sets Eyes on RCB Amid Reports of Ownership Change

Valued at a whopping $2 billion (INR 17,762 crores), RCB would easily become one of the most valuable teams among sporting leagues globally.

Indian Billionaire Sets Eyes on RCB Amid Reports of Ownership Change

Indian billionaire Adar Poonawalla has expressed interest in acquiring RCB, ahead of 2026 IPL season. (via NDTV Sports)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

2025 IPL winners’ RCB have reportedly been put up for sale by its current owners, with a surprising name having emerged as a potential suitor to buy the franchise. Indian billionaire and Serum Institute of India (SIII) chief Adar Poonawalla has expressed interest in acquiring RCB at the ‘right valuation’. 

There has been significant discussion surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s future, with current owners United Spirits Group, a subsidiary of British-based Diageo Plc. having noted its intent on putting the franchise up for sale. They have reportedly valued the franchise at a whopping $2 billion (around INR 17,762 crores). US-based Citi Bank has been appointed to oversee the entire transactional process.

The speculation surrounding Diageo Plc.’s decision to sell its majority stake in RCB emerged after the June 4 Bengaluru stampede, which occurred a day after the team’s historic maiden IPL triumph. A crowd rush occurred outside RCB’s home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, during the celebrations of the team’s win in the 2025 IPL final, which subsequently claimed 11 lives and left 56 others injured.

What followed was a series of investigations, which found several people guilty of negligence, including members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) as well as top officials of the IPL franchise. This outcome reportedly disillusioned the current owners of RCB, who subsequently decided to sell the franchise ahead of the upcoming 2027 season, preferring instead to focus on their core businesses of spirits and alcoholic beverages.

Adding to the speculation, Indian billionaire Adar Poonawalla most recently, shared a message on social media, exclaiming that he might be interested in acquiring RCB at the ‘right valuation’. Poonawalla is the CEO of Serum Institute of India, one of the country’s biggest biotechnology and pharma companies, as well as the largest manufacturer of vaccines across the world.

With SII valued at around $2.5 billion, Poonawalla and Co. might be the front-runners to buy RCB, making it their first major investment in sports. He wrote on X:

At the right valuation, RCB is a great team…

Apart from Adar Poonawalla, several other individuals or companies may register interest in buying RCB, given its massive appeal across India. Gautam Adani-owned Adani Sportsline might also be among the interested parties capable of matching the massive $2 billion valuation set by Diageo.

Will RCB Play at the Chinnaswamy Stadium Next Season, Despite ‘Unfit’ Tag?

Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was deemed ‘unfit’ in the aftermath of the tragic June 4 stampede that occurred right outside one of its entrances. Consequently, significant uncertainty remains over whether the venue will continue to serve as RCB’s home ground for the 2026 IPL season.

Chinnaswamy Stadium RCB
It remains to be seen whether RCB gets to play at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 2026 IPL season. (via Cricket Addictor)

The M. Chinnaswamy stadium has already been stripped off its rights to host the ongoing 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. The Justice Cunha Commission, in its report, stated that the structure and design of the stadium was both ‘unsuitable’ and ‘unsafe’ for mass gatherings. The commission also added that holding any other events in the Chinnaswamy might pose a massive risk to public safety and security. 

However, all of the controversy seemed to have cleared in the recent days, with the Bengaluru venue now set to host several matches of the upcoming domestic cricketing season. Having been named as the host for several Group D matches during the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium looks all set to revive itself as one of India’s premier cricketing venues.

Thereafter, it remains to be seen whether the Chinnaswamy Stadium gets cleared to host RCB’s matches during the upcoming 2026 season. Should the franchise have to shift base to another venue for the next season, Pune’s MCA Stadium or Indore’s Holkar Stadium might emerge as potential venues.

Read More: