On November 5, the multinational liquor company Diageo formally announced that they had started the RCB selling process. According to reports, top businessmen Nikhil Kamath and Ranjan Pai are interested in purchasing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The sale is expected to be finalized by March 31 and, ideally, before the 2026 Indian Premier League season.
Both Nikhil and Ranjan may band together to submit a bid, it is understood. Numerous rumors have already been made about who might take over the franchise based in Bengaluru, and this new development just serves to increase the interest in the subject.
The Times of India reports that Ranjan is the leader of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), while Nikhil is a co-founder of Zerodha. The RCB franchise’s home state of Karnataka is where both Nikhil and Ranjan are from. The franchise is anticipated to be worth much more than USD 1–1.2 billion. Without a doubt, the two individuals own sufficient financial resources to take part in the bidding act.
Analysts predict that any prospective buyer or consortium will succeed in creating a powerful brand by establishing connections with the regional fan base throughout India. It is also believed that credibility is gained in the eyes of Karnataka’s economic and political communities. According to the same story, there may be plans for a collaboration that includes Nikhil, Ranjan, and Adar Poonawalla.
According to Forbes, Nikhil and Ranjan have respective net worths of 2.5 billion and 2.8 billion dollars. In 2022, the prestigious American business publication placed RCB’s valuation at little over $1 billion. According to a different report by the investment advice firm Houlihan Lokey, as of 2025, the IPL’s brand value is worth 3.9 billion dollars, and its entire business value is 18.5 billion dollars.
With a brand valuation of an astounding 269 million dollars, RCB is thought to be the leader.
The 18th Indian Premier League season, in 2025, saw the men’s team win their first championship. The team’s full-time captain before the season was Rajat Patidar. It was under Smriti Mandhana that the women’s team saw success in the Women’s Premier League in 2024. They recently made their retentions public in advance of the WPL 2026 big auction.
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