Adar Poonawalla Confirms ‘Strong Bid’ to Acquire Royal Challengers Bangalore

New Delhi, Jan 2026 : Pharma tycoon Adar Poonawalla has announced plans to make a “strong and competitive” bid to acquire the Indian Premier League’s reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

“Over the next few months, we will be putting in a STRONG and COMPETITIVE bid for RCB, one of the best teams in the IPL,” Poonawalla, CEO of Pune-based vaccine-maker Serum Institute of India (SII) and Chairman of Poonawalla Fincorp, said in a post on his official X handle on Thursday.

The sale of RCB is being driven by London-based Diageo, the parent company of United Spirits Ltd, which began the process in November last year. The franchise is valued at approximately USD 105 million. The decision to sell gained momentum after a tragic stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in June 2025, which claimed 11 lives.

Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO of United Spirits, explained the move, saying, “RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL, however it’s non-core to our alcohol business. This step reinforces USL’s and Diageo’s commitment to reviewing its India portfolio for sustained long-term value, while keeping RCSPL’s best interests in mind.”

RCB, who secured their maiden IPL title last season, are also exploring options to host home matches outside Bengaluru for the 2026 season. Potential venues under discussion include the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. The Karnataka State Cricket Association, however, has urged the franchise to retain the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as their home ground.

Besides Poonawalla, Vijay Kiragandur’s film production house, Hombale Films, is reportedly in the fray to acquire the franchise, though no official statement has been issued by the company.

RCB is one of the IPL’s original franchises, participating since the inaugural 2008 season. The team has been associated with iconic players such as Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble, and AB de Villiers over the years. Their recent IPL title has significantly raised the franchise’s profile, making it a coveted asset for potential buyers.

As the auction and acquisition process moves forward, Poonawalla’s entry adds further excitement and anticipation in cricket and business circles, with stakeholders eagerly watching to see who ultimately secures ownership of the high-profile franchise.

The upcoming months are expected to witness intense bidding activity, with Poonawalla aiming to combine his business acumen and passion for sports to strengthen RCB’s legacy in Indian cricket.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)