On June 3 this year the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) brought an end to their long-wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title when they defeated Punjab Kings in the final.
However, a day after something tragic followed. A stampede outside their home ground - the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru left 11 people dead during the victory parade. As per reports, RCB's IPL winning season propelled the franchise's valuation to $269 million. As reported by Deccan Herald, RCB went right on the top spot in place of Chennai Super Kings.
Now a social media post from former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has fueled speculation about the franchise being up for sale.
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"There have been a lot of rumour about the sale of an IPL franchise specifically RCB - well in the past they have been denied. But it seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it," Modi posted on X, triggering speculation.
Vijay Mallya was the original owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) since the team’s inception, before the franchise was acquired by Diageo Plc in 2016. Even prior to the sale, there had been speculation that the liquor magnate was considering selling the IPL team—especially after the unfortunate stampede during post-victory celebrations at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, managed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
During that period, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had sought clarification, prompting Diageo to dismiss the reports as mere speculation.
"The company would like to clarify that the media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussions," Diageo had written to BSE on June 10.
In a recent social media post, Lalit Modi highlighted the potential of RCB as a lucrative asset for global investors.
He suggested RCB could be valued at over $2 billion, far above the $269 million estimate in Houlihan Lokey’s 2025 IPL Brand Valuation Study.
Reports have also surfaced linking Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla as a possible contender for the franchise.
"I am sure one of the Big Global funds or a Sovereign Fund would desperately like to have them as part of their investment strategy and India strategy. There can be no better investment opportunity I could think of then this one. Good luck to whoever can get their hands on to it. It definitely will set a new record valuation which will just go to show that IPL is the not only the fastest growing Global Sporting league but also the most valuable," added Modi.
While Modi’s post has generated significant chatter on social media, Diageo India has refrained from issuing a direct denial.
“Diageo declines to comment on market speculation,” sources told Deccan Herald.
The RCB media team shared a similar response, stating they had “nothing to share.”
As a result, rumours continue to swirl online, fueling further excitement and curiosity among fans.
With Virat Kohli as the enduring face of the franchise, RCB remains one of the most prominent and valuable teams in the IPL—even though the recent tragedy during the championship celebrations has slightly overshadowed their historic victory.
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