Only a week after winning the IPL 2025 championship, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) may be searching for new owners.
According to sources, Diageo Plc, the franchise's present owners, are considering selling the business whole or in part. The decision was made after the brand experienced a surge following its first IPL title victory.
One of the most well-known individuals in India's liquor industry, Vijay Mallya, who once owned Kingfisher Airlines, purchased the franchise when it first opened in 2008. Due to Mallya's financial trap, which caused his empire to collapse, Diageo was able to purchase RCB through United Spirits, its Indian affiliate.
In India, United Spirits Ltd. operates RCB through Diageo Plc, and they are currently negotiating with possible investors. According to Bloomberg, the owners may demand a price as high as USD 2 billion (about INR 16,834 crores) for the entire franchise, even though there is currently no official information on its valuation.
People familiar with the situation said that Diageo Plc, the parent company of United Spirits Ltd. and a British distiller, is considering selling all or a portion of its Royal Challengers Bengaluru holding.
According to the people, the liquor giant is looking for methods to make money off of the IPL franchise following its recent championship victory. Diageo is also speaking with possible consultants to handle the transaction.
United Spirits' shares experienced a surge in sentiment following the announcement of RCB's possible sale. Tuesday morning saw a 3.3% increase in stock prices. The choice to sell the franchise is still up for debate, though.
Following the excitement of winning the IPL, RCB experienced a sad point when 11 fans died during the team's victory celebrations at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The enthusiasm abruptly subsided when people died during the festivities.
Across the world, RCB continues to be one of the most popular sports teams on social media. Despite its poor performance in the T20 competition, the team boasts the largest fan base in cricket.
(NDTV report)
