NEW DELHI: After IPL 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru were officially put up for sale, another franchise is considering a change in ownership ahead of IPL 2026. Rajasthan Royals, who recently traded Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings, are believed to be on the market.
Harsh Goenka, brother of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka, fuelled speculation after posting on X that he had heard Rajasthan Royals, along with RCB, are also up for sale.
"I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale - RCB and RR. It seems clear that people want to cash in the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 possible buyers! Who will be the successful buyers- will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?
I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale- RCB and RR. It seems clear that people want to cash in the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 possible buyers! Who will be the successful buyers- will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) November 27, 2025
Rajasthan Royals are largely owned by Royals Sports Group (Emerging Media Sporting Holdings Limited), which holds roughly 65 percent of the franchise. Minority stakes are held by Lachlan Murdoch (13%) and RedBird Capital (15%).
The franchise has had a complex ownership history. Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra once held about 12 percent of the team but sold their shares following the 2013 betting scandal, which resulted in the Royals being suspended for two years.
RCB's new owners expected before March 31, 2026
RCB owners Diageo have officially begun the sale process, issuing a disclosure and aiming to secure new ownership by March 31, 2026.
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the UK-based company described the move as a strategic review of Investment Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Spirits Ltd., which in turn is owned by Diageo.
"The USL is initiating a strategic review of the investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, RCSPL. RCSPL's business comprises ownership of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise team that participate in the men's Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annually," said the statement, according to Cricbuzz.
