Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are reportedly up for sale ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
According to Harsh Goenka, brother of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka, the 2008 inaugural winners, Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also considering a change in ownership.
RR is primarily owned by Royals Sports Group, which holds about 65 per cent, while minority stakes are held by investors such as Lachlan Murdoch and Redbird Capital Partners.
There have been changes in ownership over the years, including the departure of Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra following the 2013 betting scam.
After RCB, Rajasthan Royals up for sale before IPL 2026
Harsh Goenka revealed that the owners of Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore may be ready for a change.
Goenka mentioned that both the teams are open to potential buyers and hinted at several interested parties from cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or even the United States.
“I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale – RCB and RR. It seems clear that people are looking to cash in on the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 potential buyers! Who will be the successful buyers – will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or the USA?” Harsh Goenka wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale – RCB and RR. It seems clear that people are looking to cash in on the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 potential buyers! Who will be the successful buyers – will they be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?
– Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) 27 November 2025
Rajasthan Royals rule out sale but consider change of home venue
Rajasthan Royals have not confirmed any plans to sell the franchise, but reports suggest that the team is considering a change in home venue. They may shift their home matches away from Jaipur due to ongoing issues with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).
Pune’s MCA Stadium is being considered as a new home venue for IPL 2026, and the franchise has started preliminary discussions with the stadium authorities.
Last year, an rca official The franchise was accused of match fixing. However, the Jaipur-based franchise rejected the allegations.
Notably, the team finished ninth in the standings in IPL 2024. RR also traded Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and received Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return.
RCB seeks US$2 billion valuation in ownership sale
Diageo confirmed on 5 November that it had begun the process of selling RCB. The first public hint came earlier on October 1, when Adar Poonawala posted on Twitter suggesting that the team was likely to be available for sale.
Poonawalla, head of Serum Institute of India and part of a family worth more than $20 billion, is among the names expected to bid. Diageo and United Spirits Ltd also informed the stock exchange about the sale process, adding that the update is being shared under Sebi’s disclosure rules.
The sale process is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026, the companies said. Reports have suggested that a consortium involving Poonawalla, Nikhil Kamath and TV Mohandas Pai may consider submitting a bid. Forbes estimates Pai’s net worth at $2.8 billion and Kamath’s net worth at $2.5 billion.
RCB was valued at just over $1 billion in a 2022 Forbes report ahead of this season’s title win. Notably, the valuation of the franchise is now expected to be higher.
Also read: BCCI arrests Indian cricket stakeholder from Guwahati after South Africa series defeat