IPL 2025 winner RCB up for sale! Deal likely to be finalised by March 31, 2026 – GujaratSamachar English

Updated: Nov 6th, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), have been reportedly put up for sale. Diageo, the current owner of the franchise, which fields teams in both the IPL and the Women’s Premier League (WPL), has initiated the sale process and aims to finalise the transaction by March 31, 2026.
One of the original IPL franchises since 2008, RCB secured their maiden IPL title earlier this year and clinched the WPL championship in 2024. The team boasts star players such as Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana, and Josh Hazlewood, among others.
At present, RCB is owned by United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of the Diageo Group. Reports suggest that Diageo is seeking a valuation of around $2 billion for RCB.
While the sale is likely to be completed by March 31, 2026, the franchise will be seen bidding for players and participating in the WPL auction on November 27.
As per earlier reports, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, was in talks to acquire the franchise. 
The discussions are said to be at an advanced stage, with several bidders also showing interest in the team. As per reports, RCB is exploring a one-time payment option for the sale.
Poonawalla’s reported interest is seen as part of his broader diversification strategy.
Earlier in June, Bloomberg had reported that Diageo was considering options for RCB’s ownership, with an estimated valuation of up to $2 billion. The company, however, clarified in an exchange filing that such reports were speculative and that no formal discussions were underway at the time.

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