Indian billionaires eye historic takeover of Bengaluru cricket franchise.

Bengaluru: Just a day after the official announcement that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise is up for sale, the cricket world is abuzz with speculation about who will take the reins of the newly crowned IPL 2025 champions. Leading the pack of potential buyers are prominent Bengaluru-based billionaires Nikhil Kamath and Ranjan Pai.

According to recent reports, Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, and Pai, chairman of the Manipal Education and Medical Group, are strong local contenders. Their deep connection to the city is seen as a major advantage. Any consortium bidding for the high-profile team would likely benefit from having local figures at the helm to maintain a strong bond with RCB's fiercely passionate fanbase, as well as to navigate the local political and social landscape effectively.

Adding to the intrigue is Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India. Poonawalla had previously sparked rumours of his interest in October with a post on X, stating that at the "right valuation," RCB is a great team.

Sources now suggest a powerhouse consortium could be forming, potentially bringing Kamath, Pai, and Poonawalla together for a massive joint bid. While none of the parties have officially commented yet, their combined financial muscle is staggering. Forbes estimates Poonawalla’s net worth at over $20 billion, with Pai at approximately $2.8 billion and Kamath at $2.5 billion.

The RCB sale is expected to command a premium price. While Forbes valued the franchise at over $1 billion back in 2022, that figure has likely soared after the team broke their 18-year drought to lift the IPL trophy in 2025. Furthermore, a recent valuation report by Houlihan Lokey pegged RCB’s brand value at $269 million—the highest among all ten IPL franchises—making it an incredibly attractive asset for investors.