RCB Owner Diageo May Sell Stake Worth $2 Billion

British company Diageo Plc is thinking about selling part or all of its ownership in IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), according to Bloomberg. RCB is owned by Diageo using its Indian subsidiary, United Spirits Ltd. The deal might be worth up to $2 billion, or roughly 17,000 crore Indian rupees. However, discussions are still at an early stage and no final decision has been made yet.

After the news broke on June 10, United Spirits' stock price rose by 3.3% on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

United Spirits Denies Sale Rumors

The rumors of a potential sale have been refuted by United Spirits. In a statement to the BSE, the company called the news "speculative" and confirmed that no such talks are taking place.

They said:

"The media reports are speculative, and we are not involved in any such discussions."

Government Pressure on Alcohol Advertising in Cricket

This news comes at a time when the Indian government is increasing efforts to stop the promotion of tobacco and alcohol through cricket. While liquor ads are banned in India, companies like Diageo often promote non-alcoholic beverages and soft drinks using famous cricketers.

RCB’s Ownership History

RCB has been a member of the IPL since its first season in 2008. The team was first bought by Vijay Mallya for $111.6 million during the IPL's inaugural auction. Mallya, who led United Breweries Group and United Spirits Ltd at the time, owned the team until 2016. Due to financial troubles and legal issues, he had to step down, and Diageo took full control of the franchise in 2016.

RCB’s Social Media Growth

RCB's popularity has grown quickly, especially after winning their first IPL title in 2025 after 18 years. The team, which has had Virat Kohli since the beginning, recently became the most followed IPL team on Instagram, with over 22 million followers.

They now have more fans than the Mumbai Indians (18.4 million) and Chennai Super Kings (18.8 million). In November 2023, RCB had fewer followers but gained millions of new fans through strong online content and their championship win. In March 2024 alone, they added over a million followers.

RCB Victory Celebration Tragedy

While celebrating their IPL win, RCB faced a tragic incident. On June 4, a stampede took place at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during their victory parade, causing the death of 11 people.

Following the incident, Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, was arrested by the Central Crime Branch. He was taken into custody early in the morning at the airport. His lawyers argued in the Karnataka High Court that the arrest was politically motivated and ordered directly by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah without proper investigation. The court, however, said that interim bail could not be granted unless it was proven that the arrest was illegal.