After Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first IPL title in 2025, speculations arose about a potential sale of the team. Following the tragic stampede in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives during victory celebrations, reports emerged hinting at a possible franchise sale. However, current owner Diageo India has released a statement to dispel these rumors.

RCB’s Historic IPL 2025 Win Sparks Sale Speculation

RCB's victory in the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS) marked the end of an 18-year drought and triggered discussions about a potential sale of the team. Despite the buzz, Diageo India firmly denied any intentions of selling the RCB franchise. The company addressed these rumors in a letter to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 10 June, clarifying its stance.

Diageo India's company secretary, Mital Sanghvi, stated to BSE, "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion. This is for your information and records."

Tragic Incident in Bengaluru Adds to the Speculation

Speculation surrounding the potential sale of RCB intensified after Bloomberg published a report hinting at Diageo's interest in selling the team. This report followed RCB's IPL victory on 3 June and a tragic stampede in Bengaluru on 4 June, where 11 individuals lost their lives during the celebratory events.

Reports suggested that Diageo's stocks surged in value after news of the possible sale surfaced. Some sources indicated that the recent incident in Bengaluru may have prompted the owner to consider selling the franchise, potentially valuing it at $2 billion. IPL founder Lalit Modi expressed his belief that the quoted valuation is reasonable, especially considering the increased brand value following RCB's IPL triumph.

The recent sale of the Gujarat Titans team for nearly $1 billion to the Torrent Group further fueled discussions about the potential value of IPL franchises.