Will the RCB Sale Have An Impact On Women’s Team? Here’s What We Know

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise - fresh off their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph - has officially been put up for sale by its parent company Diageo Plc, marking a major development

in Indian cricket's franchise landscape.

The UK-based beverage giant, which owns RCB through United Spirits Limited (USL), announced its intention to divest its stake in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd as part of a strategic business review. The sale process, revealed via a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange on November 5, 2025, is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.

The move has instantly sparked discussions about its potential ripple effect on RCB's women's team, especially with the WPL 2026 auction just around the corner. All franchises have submitted their retention lists by November 5, and the RCB women's management is already believed to have finalised its core squad.

While the ownership change raises questions about continuity, sources suggest that the current RCB management and Diageo will retain full decision-making power over the retention process until a sale is officially completed. The new ownership, once confirmed, is likely to take over operations only after the ongoing WPL administrative cycle concludes.

RCB's women's side, led by Smriti Mandhana, created history earlier back in 2024 by lifting their first-ever WPL title. Mandhana is expected to remain the face of the franchise regardless of ownership changes and is reportedly retained by the side. As it looks like, the core of the title-winning squad will stay intact, with only a few expected releases to balance the purse.

However, with RCB's reported valuation touching $2 billion, the sale could attract several high-profile bidders, including Indian corporate giants such as the Adani Group, JSW Group, and Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla. Should a deal be sealed before the auction, the new owners may choose to maintain the current structure for stability after such a landmark year.

For now, both RCB's men's and women's teams are operating under existing management, and while ownership talks continue, it appears business as usual in the Bengaluru camp - at least until the ink dries on the sale.