The defending IPL champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), have suddenly become the most sought-after franchise in the cricketing world, with at least
six companies expressing serious interest in acquiring the team.
The buzz around a possible sale has intensified as Diageo Great Britain, the franchise's parent company, continues to weigh its options.
Despite the growing speculation, insiders suggest that Diageo might still make a last-minute reversal, choosing to retain ownership. However, internal pressure is mounting, with several shareholders reportedly questioning the company's involvement in a business that lies outside its primary line of operations.
According to a Cricbuzz report, multiple Indian and American investors have approached Diageo's top management in recent weeks. Among the prominent names are Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India and Parth Jindal from the JSW Group. The Adani Group and a well-known Delhi-based business magnate with diverse investments have also shown interest, alongside two private equity firms based in the United States.
Adding to the list of potential suitors is Ravi Jaipuria, chairman of Varun Beverages-a key bottling partner for PepsiCo outside the U.S. and a major shareholder in Devyani International, the largest franchisee of Yum! Brands in India.
Adar Poonawalla, in particular, has a history of IPL interest. His father, Cyrus Poonawalla, had previously bid for a team during the league's 2010 expansion phase. Adar himself recently hinted at his ambitions, posting on X, "At the right valuation, @RCBTweets is a great team.(sic). " Reports indicate that Poonawalla may join forces with an American investment group for a possible bid.
Meanwhile, JSW's Parth Jindal, who co-owns the Delhi Capitals, would need to exit that franchise before making a formal offer. The Adani Group, too, remains eager to enter the IPL fold after narrowly missing out on the Ahmedabad team in 2021.
To explore its options, Diageo has reportedly appointed Citi Bank and another private financial institution to advise on a potential sale. Still, with Diageo's India arm opposing the move, the final decision could go either way.
