IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals Sold To Kal Somani For USD 1.6 billion

IPL 2026: One of the founding franchises of the Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals, has been sold in a major ownership deal that underscores the soaring value of IPL teams.

Investor Kal Somani has purchased the Rajasthan Royals franchise after winning a competitive bidding process. The deal reportedly values the IPL team at around USD 1.6 billion, marking one of the significant franchise transactions in the league's history.

Somani, who previously held a stake in Rajasthan Royals, secured full ownership through a consortium believed to be backed by global retail giant Walmart. The bidding process also saw strong interest from the Times Group, which narrowly missed out on acquiring the franchise.

Despite the sale, the operational leadership of Rajasthan Royals will remain unchanged for the immediate future. The current management led by Manoj Badale is expected to continue running the team until the end of the 2026 IPL season, after which Somani will officially take control of the franchise.

Rajasthan Royals, one of the original teams when the IPL began in 2008, famously lifted the tournament's inaugural title. With the franchise now sold to new owners, the team could be entering a new phase as it looks to strengthen its position in the competitive IPL landscape.