A great year or the worst? We are not sure how folks at RCB feel this year

What was supposed to be a great year for the Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has turned out to be bittersweet. After all, the team won its maiden IPL title but it was followed by a deadly stampede that set a melancholic mood in the camp.

RCB’s victory parade and trophy show at the home ground of M. Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru, which was supposed to be a celebration, turned into a tragedy. Mismanagement of the crowd led to a stampede, which caused the demise of over 10 fans, while several were left gravely injured, including a six-year-old.

That wasn’t the end; in the next few months, RCB was put up for sale, but as of now, it has not found a new owner.

RCB on sale by Diageo

For the unversed soul, RCB is owned by a UK-based spirit giant named Diageo. In 2015, Diageo took control of the team from Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries Limited, and in 2016, Diageo became the sole owner of the sports outfit. However, after 10 years of ownership, the owner put the team on sale, filing for a move to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Possible reasons for the sale

Industry experts believe that Diageo wishes to sell RCB because it wants to focus solely on its spirits business rather than maintain a diverse portfolio. There could also be a change in leadership that does not believe in keeping sports assets associated with the spirit business.

(Credit- ESPNcricinfo)

Not to forget, the recent stampede garnered negative headlines from around the world, prompting questions about RCB’s management. In fact, multiple cases have been filed against the team, and the investigation is underway. The stampede became heavily political in Karnataka, and there’s a possibility that Diageo wishes to get out of this tangle.

Date of sale and valuation

As of now, the team remains under Diageo's reign, but the sale must be completed by March 31, 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council have opened the doors to new bidders, and, according to rumours, JSW Group, Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India, Manipal Hospitals, and Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath are heavily interested in purchasing the franchise.

(Credit- The Statesman

As the year comes to an end and RCB gears up for a new dawn, we hope that the name, logo and jersey colour remain the same under the new ownership so that the team’s identity is not lost, which has remained intact since 2008 despite the hardship and struggles of the players and the management.