royal Challengers Bengaluru Ownerโ Diageo Initiatesโฃ Sale Process
BENGALURU – royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), champions of both โฃthe indian Premier League (IPL) and the โฃWomen’s Premier League (WPL), will โbe put up โforโฃ sale after parent company Diageoโ launched a strategic review of โฃit’s ownership stake in the franchise. The proclamation, made via a filing โwith the Securities โand Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday, indicates a potential change in ownership by March โ31, 2026.
Diageo’s investment in RCBโ is held through Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL),โ which โowns โboth the men’s โขand women’s teams.RCSPL is a wholly โขowned subsidiary of United Spirits Ltd (USL), controlled by Diageo.
according to โฃthe SEBI filing, “RCSPL has been a valuable and โขstrategic asset for USL; though, it โis โฃindeed non-core to our alcobev (alcohol and beverages) โคbusiness,” stated Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director & CEOโ of United Spirits. โ”This step reinforces USL and Diageo’s commitment to โreviewing our โขIndia portfolio to ensure sustained long-term valueโ for stakeholders, โwhile keeping RCSPL’sโ best interests inโ mind.”
Rumors of โa potential sale gained traction following a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during RCB’s โIPL victory โขparade in June. Diageo has faced increasing financial pressures globally in recent years, thoughโ United Spirits Ltd. company secretary Mital โSanghvi previously denied โsale rumors in June.
Despite the review, planning forโค the upcoming IPL and WPL auctions will not be affected. Any โprospectiveโฃ owner will require approval from the IPL governing body. โThe WPL isโฃ anticipatedโค to begin in January of next year, while the IPL auction is scheduled forโ December, with the league expected to commence in March 2026.