The ownership transfer process of Royal Challengers Bengaluru took a significant step forward as Adar Poonawalla expressed his intention to make a competitive bid for the IPL team. As the defending champions and with a large fan base, RCB is a valuable asset in the league. Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India, announced his plans to bid for the team on social media, but did not disclose any specifics about the bid amount or timeline.
The current owners of RCB, United Spirits Ltd, initiated the process to find a new owner last year, with the team being valued at around USD 105 million by Forbes India. The tragic incident of a stampede during RCB victory celebrations further hastened the decision to sell the team. Poonawalla’s bid comes amidst speculation that RCB may move its home matches out of Bengaluru during IPL 2026, with cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Raipur expressing interest in hosting the team.
While the Karnataka State Cricket Association has urged RCB to stay in Bengaluru for its home matches, the team is considering all factors before making a final decision. Apart from Poonawalla, Hombale Films, owned by Vijay Kiragandur, is also reportedly interested in owning RCB. However, no official statement has been issued by the owners yet. The bid for RCB must be made soon as IPL 2026 is set to begin on March 26. Published on Jan 22, 2026.
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