Rajasthan Royals Sold for Record Amount as RCB Sale Looms

Rajasthan Royals Sale Finalized

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have officially completed their sale, making them the most expensive franchise in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the time being. However, this record may soon be surpassed as the sale of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is also approaching its conclusion. According to a report, a consortium led by Kal Somani has acquired a full 100% stake in the team. Somani, an entrepreneur based in America, is supported by Rob Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune. Additionally, Shields Hamp, who holds significant shares in the Ford family, is part of the ownership group taking over the franchise.

The new owners are expected to assume control after the conclusion of the 2026 IPL season. Reports indicate that the sale price for RR reached an astonishing $1.63 billion (approximately ₹1528 crores), marking them as the first IPL team to be sold for over a billion dollars. In contrast, RCB is anticipated to be sold for an even higher amount, potentially nearing $2 billion (around ₹1875 crores).

Previously, the RPSG group, led by Sanjiv Goenka, acquired the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for $940 million (approximately ₹7090 crores based on the exchange rate in 2022). It's also noteworthy that the Torrent Group purchased a 67% stake in the Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹5020 crores ($575 million), valuing the franchise at ₹7500 crores ($858 million).

Interestingly, Somani had already invested in RR back in 2021. The franchise was formerly owned by Emerging Media Ventures, led by British Indian businessman Manoj Badale. This sale marks the first instance of an IPL team being sold following the BCCI's bidding process. The Royals were one of the original eight franchises in the inaugural IPL season, purchased by Emerging Media Ventures for $67 million (approximately ₹268 crores at that time), making them the least expensive franchise sold by the BCCI before the first season.