United Spirits Limited (USL), the owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is preparing to divest its stake in the Indian Premier League franchise. CNBC-TV18 has reported that Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India, has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire the team. The Diageo-owned subsidiary is reportedly seeking a valuation of around $2 billion, estimated at ₹17,762 crore. To oversee the high-profile transaction, global investment bank Citi has been appointed as advisor. This potential sale places RCB among the world’s costliest sporting entities. Read also: Dinesh Karthik Signs with Sharjah Warriorz for ILT20 2025-26 Season Non-core business, stampede backdrop, and valuation demand Diageo has been contemplating a sale for some time, but deliberations intensified after the stampede tragedy in Bengaluru earlier this year during the franchise’s IPL title celebrations. The incident claimed 11 lives and fuelled speculation about a potential exit. Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO of Diageo India, clarified the stance earlier this month, telling CNBC-TV18: “RCB is an exciting business, but it is non-core for Diageo.” RCB’s maiden title in IPL 2025 enhanced its marketability, with Virat Kohli’s continued presence keeping the franchise in global focus. Despite never winning previously, RCB had been one of the most commercially attractive brands in the tournament. The league has seen other ownership shifts as well. Torrent Group recently acquired 67% of Gujarat Titans for around ₹7,500 crore. The RCB valuation, significantly higher, underscores the franchise’s popularity and scale. Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi also weighed in earlier, stating: “It seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it. This will definitely set a new record valuation and become the floor price for all IPL teams.”