Overview
- United Spirits, Diageo’s India arm, disclosed a strategic review of wholly owned Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns RCB’s IPL and WPL teams, with the process expected to conclude by March 31, 2026.
- Company CEO Praveen Someshwar called the sports unit a valuable asset but outside the core alcoholic-beverages business in filings to Indian exchanges.
- Media reports describe the review as a potential sale process at valuations reported up to about $2 billion, with the Times of India saying Citibank has been tapped to advise.
- A roster of reported interested parties includes Adar Poonawalla, Adani Group, JSW Group’s Parth Jindal, and US private equity firms, with newer reports adding Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and MEMG’s Ranjan Pai exploring a consortium.
- Coverage notes any ownership transfer would require IPL clearance and is not expected to disrupt 2026 season planning, with recent context including the June victory-parade stampede and tighter rules on alcohol promotion in sport.