A lot is happening around Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the moment. You are in for a lot of news these days if you are an RCB fan. The franchise has been unbeaten at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, which is a good news. But no one actually knows where the men’s team will play their home games come IPL 2026. There is noise around ownership, and now there is a public declaration from one of India’s most powerful businessmen that he wants in.
Adar Poonawalla has confirmed his interest in buying RCB, saying he plans to put in a “strong and competitive bid” for the franchise over the next few months. It is not the first time he has hinted at this. Back in October, he had already called RCB “a great team at the right price”. This time, though, the intent is far more direct and public.
RCB sale soon
RCB are currently owned by Diageo, which acquired control through Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited. In November last year, Diageo formally told SEBI that it had begun a strategic review of its investment in RCB. That process is expected to run until March 31, 2026, effectively setting a timeline for a potential sale.
RCB are among the most valuable properties in Indian sport. They were the second-most expensive franchise when the IPL launched in 2008, and today they boast the highest brand value in the league, ahead of even serial winners like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The men’s team finally broke their title drought in 2025, while the women lifted the WPL trophy in 2024 and are currently leading the 2026 standings.
How is Virat Kohli important in RCB’s sale?
We all know that Virat Kohli’s pull is the main reason behind RCB’s higher valuation. The amount of fan following he possesses is unreal, and with him being the face of the IPL as well, RCB have a goldmine in their hands. Poonawalla is not alone in the race. Reports over the past few months have suggested that Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai are exploring a joint bid, with the possibility of forming an Indian billionaire consortium. Parth Jindal of the JSW Group has also been linked, despite his involvement with the Delhi Capitals (DC).
What remains unclear is the valuation. It was reported that Diageo was looking to sell the IPL franchise at $2 billion (approximately INR 17,775 crore). Apart from the fact that the IPL’s valuation has decreased over the last couple of years, Kohli’s potential retirement might change things. If and when he retires, RCB’s valuations will certainly drop. He has been the face and backbone of the franchise, and once he leaves, there might be an identity crisis for the team.
