RCB Up for Sale? Lalit Modi Reveals Owners’ Shocking Decision After IPL 2025 Win
In what could be one of the most significant developments in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has claimed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) owners are preparing to sell the franchise ahead of the next season.
The revelation comes just months after RCB finally broke their title drought by clinching the IPL 2025 trophy. However, the championship celebrations turned into tragedy when a stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead, putting the franchise under heavy scrutiny.
Lalit Modi Reveals Insider News About RCB
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Lalit Modi wrote that RCB’s owners, United Spirits, who had previously brushed aside rumours of a sale, have now made up their minds to step away.
“There might be a huge demand, and big global funds or sovereign funds would like to have the franchise as part of their investment strategy,” Modi said, while indirectly encouraging investors.
He added that owning RCB — one of the most popular franchises in the league with a massive fanbase — would be a dream acquisition. “There is no better opportunity than RCB. IPL is one of the fastest-growing global sporting leagues, and RCB’s sale will set a new floor price for all teams,” Modi noted.
According to Modi, Citibank is likely to oversee the auction process and find the next owners of the Bengaluru-based team.
Bengaluru Stampede Fallout
RCB’s management has been under fire since the tragic stampede on May 26, 2025, following their IPL victory at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident, which killed 11 fans, drew massive criticism from the public and authorities.
A tribunal recently held RCB accountable for lapses in crowd control and safety measures. The tragedy reportedly accelerated United Spirits’ decision to distance itself from the franchise, even though they had just tasted success on the cricketing field.
A New Era for RCB on the Horizon?
For years, RCB has been among the most-followed IPL teams thanks to icons like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle. Their maiden IPL title in 2025 was seen as redemption for years of near misses. But now, with the ownership likely to change hands, RCB’s future could take a completely new direction.
Investors, particularly large global funds, are expected to line up bids for the team, given the IPL’s booming global valuation. The sale of RCB could potentially surpass previous franchise deals and reset the financial landscape of the league.
As of now, United Spirits has not issued an official confirmation. However, with Lalit Modi’s revelations stirring the pot, the cricketing world awaits what could be one of the biggest IPL ownership shake-ups in history.
