RCB owners Diageo to sell franchise before IPL 2026: Lalit Modi makes big claim

Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi has claimed that British spirits giant Diageo Plc has decided to sell the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prior to the IPL 2026 season.

Back in June, reports had emerged that Diageo wished to sell RCB as a strategic move in the aftermath of the Bengaluru Stampede. The fatal incident had left 11 dead and over 50 injured during RCB’s victory celebrations after the IPL 2025 trophy run.

Will RCB get sold before IPL 2026?

Diageo didn’t want its name attached to the RCB after the incident and wished to sell the IPL franchise off for $2 billion (INR 17,753 crore approximately). A few days after the report emerged, the company denied the claim. But Modi says otherwise.

The IPL founder seems assured that RCB will be sold off by Diageo and that it’ll start something big. With Virat Kohli being the face of the franchise, it was valued at around $269 million (INR 2,386 crore approximately) after they lifted the IPL 2025 trophy. Modi thinks whatever price RCB is sold for, it’ll be the new benchmark for other IPL franchises.

“There have been a lot of rumour about the sale of an IPL franchise, specifically RCB – well, in the past they have been denied. But it seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it. I am sure, having won the IPL last season and also with its strong base of fans and off course the Team itself, and a great management team – it could be the only Team which would be available as a whole as an IPL franchise. I am sure one of the Big Global funds or a Sovereign Fund would desperately like to have them as part of their investment strategy and India strategy,” Modi wrote on X.

“There can be no better investment opportunity I could think of then this one. Good luck to whoever can get their hands on to it. It definitely will set a new record valuation, which will just go to show that IPL is the not only the fastest growing Global Sporting league but also the most valuable. That new price that RCB sets will become the new floor price for all teams. Good to luck to all. I am sure Citi Bank will do a great job auctioning the team to prospective buyers,” the IPL founder further added.

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