RCB Ownership Sale: Just days after lifting their first IPL trophy in 18 years, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could be heading for a major change. The current owner, British company Diageo, is reportedly planning a RCB ownership sale, which could bring in new stakeholders for the popular franchise.
According to Bloomberg, Diageo—through its Indian arm United Spirits Limited—has started early discussions with advisors to explore either a partial or full sale of RCB. The RCB ownership sale could value the franchise at up to $2 billion. While no final decision has been made yet, the move is said to align with Diageo’s broader global strategy of streamlining its business operations.
The reason behind this potential RCB ownership sale appears to be strategic. Diageo aims to focus more on its main business—alcohol production—as liquor sales are declining in the U.S. market. Another factor is India’s likely move to ban indirect alcohol advertising in sports, which could reduce Diageo’s brand visibility through cricket teams like RCB.
RCB’s IPL 2025 win brought massive celebrations across Bengaluru. But a public victory event turned tragic after overcrowding led to a stampede, killing 11 and injuring many others. This incident raised public concern over safety and may have added more pressure on Diageo to consider exiting the team.
RCB, formed in 2008 as one of the original IPL teams, was initially owned by Vijay Mallya before Diageo took over through United Spirits. The team is world-famous, mainly due to players like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Faf du Plessis. Despite years of criticism for not winning the league, the team finally earned its first title this year—marking a historic achievement.
With the RCB ownership sale under discussion, fans are now wondering what the future holds. Will a new owner change the team’s direction or continue to build on its recent success? For now, RCB supporters are still celebrating their long-awaited victory while closely watching for updates on the franchise’s next chapter.
