royal Challengers Bengaluru Owner Diageo Initiates Sale Process
BENGALURU – royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), champions of both the indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL), will be put up for sale after parent company Diageo launched a strategic review of it’s ownership stake in the franchise. The proclamation, made via a filing with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday, indicates a potential change in ownership by March 31, 2026.
Diageo’s investment in RCB is held through Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL), which owns both the men’s and women’s teams.RCSPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Spirits Ltd (USL), controlled by Diageo.
according to the SEBI filing, “RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL; though, it is indeed non-core to our alcobev (alcohol and beverages) business,” stated Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director & CEO of United Spirits. ”This step reinforces USL and Diageo’s commitment to reviewing our India portfolio to ensure sustained long-term value for stakeholders, while keeping RCSPL’s best interests in mind.”
Rumors of a potential sale gained traction following a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during RCB’s IPL victory parade in June. Diageo has faced increasing financial pressures globally in recent years, though United Spirits Ltd. company secretary Mital Sanghvi previously denied sale rumors in June.
Despite the review, planning for the upcoming IPL and WPL auctions will not be affected. Any prospective owner will require approval from the IPL governing body. The WPL is anticipated to begin in January of next year, while the IPL auction is scheduled for December, with the league expected to commence in March 2026.