It has been a rollercoaster year for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2025, filled with highs and lows that captured global attention. The franchise ended their 18-year trophy drought by clinching the Indian Premier League (IPL) title earlier this year. However, celebrations took a tragic turn when a stampede in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives and left several others injured.
Now, with the IPL 2026 auction looming closer, speculation over the future of the team has intensified. Former IPL chief Lalit Modi has recently fact-checked the reports of an RCB sale, claiming that the current owner, Diageo Plc has decided to sell the franchise.
Modi took to his X handle and wrote a long message that created a buzz across the cricketing fraternity.
“It seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it. I am sure having won the IPL last season and also with its strong base of fans and of course the Team itself and a great management team – it could be the only Team which would be available as a whole as an IPL franchise,” wrote Modi.
He further highlighted RCB’s potential appeal to global investors.
“One of the big global funds or a sovereign fund would desperately like to have them as part of their investment and India strategy. There can be no better investment opportunity than this. It will definitely set a new record valuation, showing that IPL is not only the fastest-growing global sporting league but also the most valuable. That new price that RCB sets will become the new floor price for all teams,” Modi further explained.
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Even before Modi’s post, the rumours about Diageo’s potential RCB exit had already surfaced. In June, reports suggested that the liquor giant had already begun preliminary talks with advisors to explore full-scale exit options, with valuations pegged at nearly $2 billion. However, United Spirit Limited (USL) company secretary Mital Sanghvi denied those reports, stressing the company is not pursuing any such discussions.
The situation has become more complicated for the current owners, particularly after a stampede led to legal action against the franchise, its event management partner, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials. Meanwhile, the owner has faced increasing scrutiny over indirect alcohol advertising, especially after the Union Health Ministry limited the visibility of liquor companies in sports sponsorships. A potential sale could allow Diageo to sidestep regulatory risk while cashing in on record IPL valuations.
RCB was initially owned by Vijay Mallya before USL and Diageo took control in 2016. Despite not winning a title in the first 17 years, the franchise established itself as one of the most attractive teams, not just in cricket, but across all sports, courtesy of an incredible fan loyalty, social media following, and association of star players like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers.
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