‘If RCB owner does sell…’ – IPL founder Lalit Modi on Virat Kohli-starrer team’s net worth

Exactly a week after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, it was reported that RCB’s current owners, Diageo Plc, the British spirits giant, wished to sell the cricket franchise.

A day after their maiden win, RCB had organised a victory parade and celebrations at their home, M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, things didn’t go as well. During the celebrations, a fatal stampede occurred. It left 11 dead and over 50 injured.

As finger-pointing ensued between the Bengaluru government and police. In the end, RCB was the one who was stated to have the biggest role in the deadly affair. It was reported that Diageo wished to sell RCB as a strategic move and deny any accountability for the Bengaluru stampede.

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It was reported that RCB was to be sold for $2 billion (INR 17,643 crore). However, Diageo refuted any such claims. But was such a big figure warranted for the IPL 2025 champions?

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Following their maiden trophy run, it was revealed that RCB currently has a brand value of $269 million (INR 2,373 crore). Recently, the Gujarat Titans underwent an ownership change as Torrent Group acquired 7,500 crore for a 67% stake. Considering RCB is at least twice as big, the $2 billion seems right. IPL founder Lalit Modi thinks that as well.

“We (IPL) are only 18 years old. We have just started the fan following; we have just started the frenzy. It was unfortunate what happened with the stampede in Karnataka after RCB won. But you will see that passion grow across the country, across the world,” Lalit told Michael Clarke on the Beyond 23 Podcast.

The IPL founder even went on to say that if Diageo sells RCB after IPL 2026, they should sell it for $2.5 billion (INR 22054 crore). And with each passing season, it’ll only increase. After IPL 2027, it will be $3 billion (INR 26462 crore), and by IPL 2029, RCB should be worth around $4 billion (INR 35286 crore).

“If RCB does want to sell, they would be stupid to sell it for less than 2 billion dollars. If it is next year, then 2.5 billion, and if two years later, it would be 3 billion, and if it is four years later, then four billion dollars – take it in writing from me. It will grow by half a billion dollars a year,” he added.

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