The Royal Challengers Bengaluru, fresh off their maiden IPL title win in 2025 and two WPL championships in 2024 and 2026, are now the subject of one of Indian sport’s most competitive franchise sales.
Current owners Diageo have received nine non-binding bids ranging from $1 billion to $1.8 billion, with Manchester United’s Glazer family leading the pack.
The timing is remarkable, RCB went from being IPL’s most talked-about underachievers to champions across formats, and now find themselves potentially changing hands for a valuation approaching $2 billion.
The franchise’s recent success, including its second consecutive WPL title just months ago, has only intensified buyer interest, cementing RCB’s status as one of cricket’s most valuable franchises.
Glazers Lead The Bidding Race
The Glazer family, through Avram Glazer’s Lancer Capital, has submitted the most aggressive offer at approximately $1.8 billion (₹16,321 crore).
This places them firmly ahead of other bidders, though still below Diageo’s expected $2.1 billion valuation following RCB’s IPL 2025 triumph.
The Glazers aren’t newcomers to cricket; they currently own the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, who are also reigning champions of that league.
However, their first IPL attempt in 2021 failed when they submitted the lowest qualifying bid (₹4,128.65 crore) for the two new franchise slots, losing out to Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
Why Diageo Is Selling RCB
Diageo’s decision stems from strategic business realignment. United Spirits informed SEBI in November that RCB was being reviewed as a non-core asset outside its alcohol beverage focus.
The tragic stampede during RCB’s title celebration at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which resulted in multiple deaths, also raised concerns about reputational damage and legal liabilities.
Other Major Bidders In The Fray
The competitive field reflects global capital’s hunger for IPL exposure. Adar Poonawalla has partnered with private equity giant TPG, while Dr Ranjan Pai is exploring a consortium with KKR and potentially Temasek.
Premji Invest and Sweden-based EQT have also entered the fray, making this one of the most hotly contested franchise sales in cricket history. With Citigroup managing the transaction, the final sale price will likely reflect RCB’s massive fanbase, commercial strength, and continued association with Virat Kohli.
