Paul van Meekeren remains a vocal supporter of associate countries trying to bridge the gap with full member teams. The Netherlands fast bowler suggested that even gaining just 0.5% of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s valuation could make a huge difference to global cricket.
“If they could give @KNCBCricket 0.5% we could close the gap to full members and make the game more global @RCBTweets,” Paul Van Meekeren wrote on
If they could only give 0.5% @KNCBCricket We can close the full members gap and make the game more global @RCBTweets https://t.co/4pfrha6Rr4
– Paul van Meekeren (@paulvanmeekeren) 24 March 2026
Under the new ownership structure, Aditya Birla Group director Aryaman Vikram Birla will serve as the chairman of RCB. Meanwhile, Times Group representative Satyan Gajwani will take on the role of vice president to guide both the men’s and women’s teams through the new corporate era.
Associate nations pushing for more opportunities after T20 World Cup 2026
The Netherlands national cricket team showed strong competition during the T20 World Cup 2026. They exited the tournament with one win in the group stage but produced some impressive performances against top teams.
Paul van Meekeren and his colleagues gave a tough challenge to Pakistan and also made a commendable effort against India. Their performance highlighted the growing strength of the Allies on the global stage.
After the tournament, many associate players called for structural changes and more regular matches against top teams. Oman captain Jatinder Singh and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards urged the ICC to expand bilateral opportunities beyond major events.
RCB sale highlights IPL’s growing financial strength
United Spirits Limited initiated a strategic review of its franchise stake last November as part of a broader business decision.
The Indian arm of Diageo identified Royal Challengers Bangalore as a non-core asset, prompting the company to capitalize on the rapidly rising valuation of the IPL franchise through a major sale.
Investment bank Houlihan Lokey recently valued the Indian Premier League at an impressive $18.5 billion due to strong team revenues and high-value broadcasting deals.
As a result, the sale of RCB for $1.78 billion became the most expensive franchise transaction in cricket history, underscoring the league’s massive commercial growth.
This was not the only major change in ownership in the IPL. Yesterday a US-based consortium led by Somani also acquired Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion. These billion-dollar deals reflect the growing global appeal and financial strength of the IPL ahead of the 2026 season.
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