After RCB, 1 more IPL champion goes on sale in turmoil

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are reportedly up for sale ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

According to Harsha Goenka, brother of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka, the inaugural 2008 winners, Rajasthan Royals (RR), are also considering changes in ownership.

RR are primarily owned by the Royals Sports Group, which holds around 65 per cent, while minority stakes belong to investors like Lachlan Murdoch and RedBird Capital Partners.

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The ownership has shifted over the years, including the departure of Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra after the 2013 betting scandal.

After RCB, Rajasthan Royals Up for Sale Ahead of IPL 2026

Harsh Goenka revealed that the owners of the Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru could be set for a change.

Goenka mentioned that both teams are open to potential buyers and hinted at several interested parties from cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, or even from the USA.

“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- will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?" Harsh Goenka wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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- will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) November 27, 2025

Rajasthan Royals Deny Sale Talk but Explore Change of Home Venue

Rajasthan Royals have not confirmed any plans to sell the franchise, but reports say the team is considering a change of home venue. They might shift their home matches away from Jaipur because of ongoing issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).

Pune’s MCA Stadium is being considered as a new home venue for IPL 2026, and the franchise has already begun early discussions with the stadium authorities.

Last year, an RCA official accused the franchise of match-fixing. However, the Jaipur-based franchise dismissed the allegations.

Notably, the team finished in ninth place in the standings in IPL 2024. RR also traded Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and received Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return.

RCB seeks USD 2 Billion Valuation in Ownership Sale

Diageo confirmed on November 5 that it had started the process to sell RCB. The first public hint came earlier, on October 1, when Adar Poonawalla posted on X suggesting that the team was likely to be up for sale.

Poonawalla, head of the Serum Institute of India and part of a family worth more than $20 billion, is among the names expected to bid. Diageo and United Spirits Limited also informed the stock exchange about the sale process, stating that the update was being shared under SEBI’s disclosure rules.

The companies added that the sale process is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026. Reports have suggested that a consortium involving Poonawalla, Nikhil Kamath, and T.V. Mohandas Pai may consider submitting a bid. Forbes lists Pai with a net worth of $2.8 billion and Kamath at $2.5 billion.

RCB were valued at just over $1 billion in a 2022 Forbes report before their title win this season. Notably, the franchise’s valuation is expected to be higher now.

Also read: BCCI arrests Indian cricket stakeholder from Guwahati after South Africa series loss