Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India and Chairman of Poonawalla Fincorp, has publicly confirmed plans to submit a bid for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one of the Indian Premier League’s most high-profile franchises.
In a post on X on Thursday, Poonawalla said he plans to put forward a “strong and competitive bid” over the coming months. He had earlier hinted at his interest in October last year, calling RCB “a great buy at the right price.”
Bid comes as Diageo reviews its stake
Poonawalla’s statement comes as RCB’s ownership picture becomes clearer.
At present, Diageo owns the franchise and has begun reassessing its position. In November, ESPNcricinfo reported that the company had started exploring options to sell its stake.
Shortly after, Diageo confirmed the development in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. The company said it is carrying out a strategic review of its investment through Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, which owns both RCB’s men’s and women’s teams.
According to the filing, Diageo expects to complete the review by March 31, 2026, setting the stage for a possible change in ownership.
RCB’s brand value remains strong
Despite the uncertainty, RCB remains one of the IPL’s most valuable franchises.
When the league launched in 2008, the franchise entered at $111.6 million, making it the second most expensive team at the time. That early valuation reflected its strong brand pull and market appeal.
Recent results have only added to that value. The men’s team secured their first IPL title in 2025, while the women’s side won the WPL trophy in 2024 and currently tops the points table in the 2026 season. Together, those performances have strengthened RCB’s standing both on and off the field.
Questions remain over home venue
However, one key issue remains unresolved ahead of IPL 2026.
RCB’s home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has not yet been confirmed as a venue. The uncertainty follows a tragic stampede outside the stadium during title celebrations last year, which resulted in 11 deaths.
A defining moment for IPL ownership.
With Diageo’s review nearing its deadline and interest from a high-profile bidder now public, the RCB ownership bid process is entering a decisive phase.
If successful, Poonawalla’s move would mark one of the most significant ownership changes in IPL history, bringing one of India’s most influential industrialists into the league’s elite ownership circle.
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Adar Poonawala, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Getty Images
