Royal Challengers Bengaluru may be sold, as owners Diageo Plc have expressed interest in selling the franchise following the team’s maiden IPL win. There are reports showing that Diageo is evaluating all possible options for the Bengaluru-based franchise.
As per reports, United Spirits Ltd, the Indian subsidiary owed by British Distiller, plans to sell more than two billion dollars worth of the rights to the franchise. The Franchise received this valuation after winning IPL 2025 and bringing home the team’s very first title after over 18 years.
Shares of United Spirits went up by 3.3% on Tuesday morning after the sale news was made public. Breaking the championship drought seems to be the right moment for Diageo, allowing the company to reap the biggest rewards from their investment.
At first, Kingfisher was Vijay Mallya’s brand, but when he faced financial problems with his Kingfisher Airlines, Diageo Plc bought United Spirits and acquired Kingfisher. With this purchase, Diageo could join the highly lucrative IPL market by using an established franchise with a huge following.
Despite limited on-field success until this season, RCB has maintained one of cricket’s largest global fanbases and strongest social media presence. The franchise’s commercial appeal extends far beyond traditional cricket metrics, making it attractive to potential investors seeking premium sports properties.
The potential sale comes at a complex time for the franchise. While celebrating their championship victory, RCB faced tragedy when a stampede occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during victory celebrations. This incident has led to increased scrutiny of crowd management and safety protocols surrounding IPL events.
Several industry experts think that tougher regulations over alcohol advertising in cricket and the stampede incident might have something to do with Diageo considering an exit. The business is encountering more difficulties while trying to promote brands through sports sponsorships in different aspects of the industry.
At this point, the sale is not finalized, as Diageo is said to be talking to prospective advisers about how the deal might work. Most investors, both within the US and overseas, are likely to be interested because of the franchise’s history and brand strength. Recently, there have been many well-known transactions involving IPL franchises, and each time, the value of the franchises goes even higher. If RCB is sold, it may establish new records for how cricket franchise valuations are determined, because of their latest championship and reliable fan following.
Prospective buyers are attracted to RCB since it is a champion franchise loved and supported by many in Bangalore. The number of followers the company has on social media and its sales of merchandise prove that engagement is high and could lead to more income.
Cricket fans are staying attentive to news about RCB’s ownership, as they want to see if the franchise’s future will be affected by any change. The signing of this agreement demonstrates how the IPL’s ecosystem is changing and leads to higher financial levels for the league.
