RCB Up for Sale: IPL 2025 Champions Set to Change Ownership by March 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, are set for a major transition as their parent company Diageo has initiated the process to sell the franchise. The sale of one of the IPL's most iconic teams is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.

Diageo Begins Strategic Review of RCB Ownership

The news was confirmed through an official communication by Diageo to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday. The company described the move as a "Strategic Review of the Investment Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL)," which owns both the men's IPL and women's WPL teams under the RCB brand.

"RCSPL's business comprises ownership of the 'Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)' franchise teams that participate in the Men's Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annually," Diageo stated in its filing.

The disclosure also confirmed that the sale process "is expected to conclude by March 31, 2026," marking a key moment in the franchise's long-standing journey since its inception in 2008.

RCB's Market Value and Potential Buyers

According to reports, Diageo is seeking a valuation of around USD 2 billion for RCB. The company's sports business contributed 8.3 percent of its total profit for the financial year ending March 2025, indicating the franchise's strong financial performance.

There is growing speculation that Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, has shown interest in acquiring the RCB franchise. If the deal materializes, it would mark a significant entry into the sports ownership space for Poonawalla, known globally as India's "vaccine king."

Even as the ownership transition moves forward, RCB is expected to continue its usual operations, including participating in the WPL auction on November 27.

A New Chapter for the Double Champions

RCB's rise to championship glory in both the WPL 2024 and IPL 2025 seasons has boosted the brand's value and visibility. With star players like Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana, and Josh Hazlewood, the franchise finally shed its "underachiever" tag and became a dominant force across formats.

The sale, however, signals a broader restructuring of Diageo's business strategy in India.

'Non-Core to Our Alcobev Business,' Says CEO

Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director & CEO of United Spirits Ltd, said the decision was taken keeping in mind the long-term strategic priorities of the company.

"RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL; however, it's non-core to our alcobev business," Someshwar said. "This step reinforces USL's and Diageo's commitment to continue reviewing its India enterprise portfolio to enable sustained delivery of long-term value to all its stakeholders, while keeping RCSPL's best interest in mind."

As the franchise heads into a new era, fans and investors alike will be watching closely to see who takes charge of the team that finally turned its legacy into a championship story.