In a major development in Indian cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) — has been officially put up for sale by its parent company, Diageo.
The UK-based beverage giant made the announcement through a disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on November 5, confirming a “strategic review” of its investment in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), the wholly owned subsidiary of United Spirits Ltd (USL), Diageo’s Indian arm.
According to a Cricbuzz report, Diageo has already initiated the sale process and aims to complete the transaction by March 31, 2026, ahead of the next IPL season.
Strategic Review and Official Statement
In its official filing, Diageo stated:
“USL is initiating a strategic review of the investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, RCSPL. RCSPL’s business comprises ownership of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise team that participates in the men’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the BCCI annually.”
The company clarified that the move is being undertaken under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirements).
RCB’s Maiden Title and Controversy
The announcement comes in the same year RCB clinched their first-ever IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. However, the franchise’s post-victory celebrations were marred by a tragic incident outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where a stampede during public celebrations led to multiple deaths and injuries — a development that reportedly impacted the franchise’s image and may have influenced the sale decision.
Official Remark from USL Leadership
Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director and CEO of USL, emphasized that while RCB remains a valuable asset, it does not align with the company’s core operations:
“RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL. However, it is non-core to our alcobev business. This step reinforces USL’s and Diageo’s commitment to reviewing its India portfolio to ensure long-term value creation for stakeholders while keeping RCSPL’s best interests in mind.”
If completed, the sale will mark a significant ownership change for one of the IPL’s most followed franchises, closing a remarkable yet turbulent chapter in RCB’s history.
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