Overview
- Adar Poonawalla said on X he will submit a strong and competitive bid for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the coming months, without disclosing financial terms.
- United Spirits/Diageo has begun a strategic review of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd, calling the cricket business non-core and setting an expected process end date of March 31, 2026.
- RCB’s 2025 IPL title has boosted commercial interest, with media reports suggesting a valuation near $2 billion, while a Houlihan Lokey study pegged the team’s 2025 brand value at $269 million.
- Other reported suitors include Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Manipal Group’s Ranjan Pai and Hombale Films, and Citi has been reported as a transaction adviser.
- Venue decisions for IPL 2026 remain under review after last year’s fatal stampede in Bengaluru, with KSCA citing upgrades and RCB noting unresolved safety questions that could shift some home matches.