Rajasthan Royals Ownership Sale Heats Up as Aditya Birla Group Leads $1.3B Race

Fans are all set for another exciting season of the Indian Premier League. The 19th edition begins on March 28 and is expected to create massive buzz, especially after India’s thrilling T20 World Cup 2026 victory. Despite some travel hurdles, players have started to prepare for the upcoming season. However, some owners are engaged in their own tussle. It is not a secret anymore that we are in for an ownership change for two franchises, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While RCB’s ownership transfer has entered its final phase, Rajasthan Royals (RR) are not far behind in drawing serious interest.

As per Indian Express, the Royals have already received binding bids from at least three parties, with the Aditya Birla Group emerging as the frontrunner. What has changed over the past few weeks, though, is the intent. Initial conversations revolved around selling a majority stake, but the Royals are now open to a complete exit if the right valuation is met. That figure is hovering in the range of $1.1 to $1.35 billion, which roughly translates to INR 9,000–12,000 crore.

The ownership structure is divided among multiple stakeholders, with Manoj Badale’s Emerging Media IPL Ltd holding a 65 percent stake, RedBird Capital Partners owning 15 percent, and Lachlan Murdoch holding 13 percent. The remaining shares are split among individual investors. Any full sale would require alignment across this diverse group, which makes the process slightly more time-consuming.

The Raine Group, which has previously handled high-profile sports deals involving clubs like Chelsea FC and Manchester United, is overseeing the sale. Among the interested parties, Aditya Birla Group has teamed up with US-based investor David Blitzer to submit a strong bid. There is also interest from a leading Indian media house, while Capri Global and the Times of India Group remain in the mix after stepping away from the RCB race. Kal Somani, in partnership with Walmart heir Rob Walton, is another name that continues to hover around the deal.

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by Dwijesh March 17, 2026