Billionaires eye RCB as Diageo reviews investment: Nikhil Kamath, Ranjan Pai, Poonawalla are potential bidders

Zerodha cofounder Nikhil Kamath, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai, and Adar Poonawalla are among the investors looking to buy a franchise of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), according to a report by TOI on Friday.

Billionaires Kamath and Pai share deep ties with Bengaluru, while Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, has also expressed interest in investing in the Bengaluru team, as indicated by a recent post on X.



Other high-profile names, including a US-based private investment firm, the Adani Group, the JSW Group led by the Jindal family, and Ravi Jaipuria of Devyani International Group, have also shown inclination towards RCB.

United Spirits Ltd (USL), India’s largest liquor company and a subsidiary of UK-based Diageo, announced a strategic review of its cricket franchise business that could lead to a sale or restructuring of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teams. The process is expected to conclude by March 31, 2026.

The disclosure was made under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements). USL managing director and CEO Praveen Someshwar confirmed that the review is part of the company’s ongoing effort to focus on its core alcoholic beverages business.

Net worth

The 38-year-old cofounder of Zerodha, Nikhil Kamath, made it to the Forbes 2024 list as India’s youngest billionaire, with an estimated wealth of $3.1 billion.

Medical doctor and chairman of the Manipal Group, Ranjan Pai, had a net worth of $2.8 billion, placing him in the 86th position among India’s richest in the Forbes 2023 list and 1,305th among global billionaires in 2025.

According to the CNBC report, Adar Poonawalla’s net worth is estimated at over $20 billion, making him a potential bidder for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 title winner.

RCB supremacy

Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB lifted its maiden title by trouncing Punjab Kings in the final of the 18th edition of the cash-rich league.

Global investment bank Houlihan Lokey ranked RCB as the most valuable IPL franchise earlier this year, estimating its worth at around $269 million, following the team’s first-ever IPL championship victory.

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