Rumors have been flying around that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) might be sold soon, especially after their historic IPL 2025 win.
But both the team’s owner, Diageo India, and Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, have strongly denied these reports.
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Diageo even sent an official note to the Bombay Stock Exchange stating that the news is “speculative” and that they are not discussing any sale.
What grabbed everyone’s attention, though, was D.K. Shivakumar’s bold and humorous reply. He said, “Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge,” referring to the liquor brand that sponsors the team.
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He also added that while he’s been a cricket fan for years, he has no interest in or time for team ownership.
The rumors gained momentum after RCB won their first IPL trophy on June 3. A Bloomberg report suggested that Diageo might reconsider its ownership following the win. As the news spread, shares of Diageo’s Indian company, United Spirits, went up — showing how seriously investors were taking the talk.
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There was also debate over the franchise’s valuation. Some argued that $2 billion was too high, especially compared to the Gujarat Titans’ $1 billion sale. However, IPL founder Lalit Modi stated that RCB deserves a higher price due to its loyal fan base and strong brand.
Sadly, RCB’s celebrations were overshadowed by a tragic stampede during their victory parade in Bengaluru, which led to 11 deaths and many injuries.
The incident has raised serious questions about crowd management. For now, though, RCB is not for sale, and D.K. Shivakumar has made it clear — he’s staying far away from owning an IPL team.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also clarified that the RCB management did not take permission for the victory parade event. He said it was the responsibility of RCB and the event organizers to manage the crowd.
