Rajasthan Royals and RCB on the Selling Block
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is on the horizon, and significant news is buzzing around Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Reports indicate that both franchises may soon change hands, setting the cricket world abuzz. Harsha Goenka, sibling of Lucknow Super Giants’ Sanjiv Goenka, confirmed the ongoing discussions about potential sales.
Ownership Landscape of Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural IPL champions in 2008, are primarily owned by Royals Sports Group, holding about 65% of the shares. The remaining shares belong to notable investors like Lachlan Murdoch and RedBird Capital Partners. Throughout the years, RR's ownership has seen several transformations, notably after the 2013 betting scandal involving celebrities Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, who withdrew their partnership.
Goenka revealed that RCB and RR are indeed on the market, enticing potential buyers from various cities, including Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and even international interests 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,” he shared in a recent post on X.
Future of Rajasthan Royals
While RR hasn’t made any official declarations about selling, rumors suggest a potential shift in their home venue due to ongoing issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Discussions are reported to be underway about moving home games to Pune’s MCA Stadium for IPL 2026.
Despite allegations of match-fixing made by an RCA official last year, RR has strongly denied any wrongdoing. In IPL 2024, the franchise finished in the 9th position and made notable changes, trading star player Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
The Sale Process for RCB
The sale process for RCB was publicly confirmed by Diageo on November 5, marking the beginning of this significant transition. The initial hints concerning the sale surfaced on October 1 when Adar Poonawalla, who heads the Serum Institute of India, indicated the team's likely availability.
Current estimates value RCB at over $1 billion, a figure expected to rise further following their latest title win. Interested bidders may include prominent figures like Poonawalla, valued at over $20 billion, along with billionaire Nikhil Kamath and T.V. Mohandas Pai, whose net worth stands at $2.8 billion and $2.5 billion respectively.
| Owner | Net Worth |
|---|
| Adar Poonawalla | $20 billion+ |
| T.V. Mohandas Pai | $2.8 billion |
| Nikhil Kamath | $2.5 billion |
The sale is set to conclude by the end of March 2026, creating a lot of buzz in the cricket community.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments on this unfolding story in the world of Indian Premier League cricket!