Royal Challengers Bengaluru stands as one of cricket’s most valuable franchises following their historic double championship victories in IPL 2025 and WPL 2026.
Current owner Diageo has initiated the sale process with an estimated valuation between $1.2 and $1.8 billion.
Eight prominent business groups have submitted expressions of interest for acquiring the franchise.
The ownership transition is expected to finalize before IPL 2026, marking a significant shift in the franchise’s corporate structure.
List of All Parties Interested in Buying RCB
This analysis examines the list of all parties interested in buying ipl franchise royal challengers bengaluru, covering their business backgrounds, reported bid amounts, and strategic positioning within the competitive acquisition process.
Top 8 All Parties Interested in Buying IPL Franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru
| Party Name | Country | Industry | Reported Bid | Key Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer Capital | USA | Sports Investment | $1.8 Billion (Reported) | Manchester United Stake |
| Manipal Group | India | Education & Healthcare | Not Disclosed | MAHE, Manipal Hospitals |
| Adar Poonawalla Group | India | Biotech & Finance | Not Disclosed | Serum Institute |
| Times Group | India | Media | Not Disclosed | TOI, Times Now |
| EQT Private Capital | Sweden | Global Investment | Not Disclosed | Tech & Healthcare Funds |
| Capri Global Capital | India | NBFC | Not Disclosed | MSME & Housing Loans |
| Sanjay Govil | USA | Technology & Cricket | Not Disclosed | Washington Freedom |
| Premji Invest | India | Private Equity | Stake Interest | Wipro Promoter Fund |
List of All Parties Interested in Buying RCB
- Lancer Capital
US-based investment firm owned by Avram Glazer, who holds an ownership stake in Manchester United. Reportedly submitted the highest bid at approximately $1.8 billion, positioning them as frontrunners in the acquisition race.
- Manipal Group
Karnataka-based conglomerate founded in 1941 and owned by Ranjan Pai. Operates across education, healthcare, media, and finance sectors with flagship ventures including Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Manipal Hospitals network.
- Adar Poonawalla Group
Led by Karnataka-based billionaire Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India and Chairman of Poonawalla Fincorp. The Serum Institute represents the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, headquartered in Pune.
- Times Group
India’s largest media conglomerate, officially Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., is owned by the Sahu Jain family. Founded in 1838, the Mumbai-based group dominates print, television, radio, and digital media through brands like Times of India and Times Now.
- EQT Private Capital
Global investment firm focusing on active ownership across Europe, North America, and Asia. Invests primarily in technology, healthcare, and industrial sectors with long-term strategic positioning in major corporate acquisitions.
- Capri Global Capital Limited
Retail-focused Non-Banking Financial Company managing assets exceeding INR 30,000 crores while serving over 6 lakh customers. Specializes in MSME loans, gold loans, housing finance, and real estate project funding.
- Sanjay Govil
Indian-American entrepreneur and founder of Infinite Computer Solutions. Currently owns Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket and Welsh Fire in The Hundred, demonstrating established cricket franchise management experience.
- Premji Invest
Private equity firm owned by Azim Premji, founder and chairman of Wipro. Focuses on financial services, technology, healthcare, and life sciences sectors while seeking strategic minority stake acquisition in the franchise.
The list of all parties interested in buying rcb team demonstrates diverse industry representation spanning sports investment, healthcare, media, technology, and finance sectors.
Current owner Diageo initiated the RCB sale process following the franchise’s championship victories across both men’s and women’s competitions.
Who is buying RCB remains subject to final bid evaluation and BCCI approval processes.
The RCB’s new owner name 2026 announcement will follow comprehensive due diligence and ownership transfer procedures mandated by IPL governing regulations.
Financial Expectations & Valuation Insights
| Valuation Range | Highest Reported Bid | Expected Closing Timeline | Ownership Transfer Before |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.2 – $1.8 Billion | $1.8 Billion | Before IPL 2026 | RCB Auction 2026 |
The valuation range reflects the franchise’s commercial strength following consecutive championship victories.
The RCB auction 2026 timeline requires ownership clarification before player retention and auction processes commence.
Conclusion:
The list of all parties interested in buying ipl franchise royal challengers bengaluru represents significant corporate interest in acquiring one of cricket’s most commercially valuable franchises.
The competitive bidding process reflects RCB’s enhanced market position following their IPL 2025 and WPL 2026 championship victories.
- Expected Sale Window: Ownership transfer process scheduled for completion before IPL 2026 season commencement to ensure administrative continuity.
- Official Announcement: Final bidder selection and ownership confirmation likely during the RCB auction 2026 cycle, following BCCI approval procedures.
- Ownership Transition: Gradual handover from Diageo to the new ownership group with regulatory compliance and franchise operation transfer protocols.
- Final Confirmation: RCB’s new owner name 2026 announcement pending completion of due diligence, financial verification, and league governing body approval processes.
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