Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise likely to be sold after maiden IPL title win: Report

Bengaluru: Just a week after lifting their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is reportedly being considered for a partial or complete sale by its owners, a report said citing sources.

According to an NDTV report, Diageo PLC, the current owner of the franchise, is exploring options to either fully or partially sell RCB. The decision comes in the wake of a massive rise in the brand’s value following the team’s historic first IPL trophy win after 18 years.

In India, RCB is operated by United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo PLC. Reports suggest that discussions with potential investors are already underway. However, the franchise has not issued any official statement regarding the sale.

While there is no confirmed valuation yet, a Bloomberg report states that the owners could seek up to USD 2 billion (approximately Rs 16,834 crore) if a complete sale is initiated.

RCB was originally purchased in 2008 by Vijay Mallya, the then-owner of Kingfisher Airlines and a prominent figure in India’s liquor industry. After Mallya’s financial troubles, Diageo acquired the team through its Indian arm, United Spirits.

Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the most popular IPL teams with a massive fan base. It is also the only IPL franchise to have over 20 million followers on Instagram.