Will RCB Need to Change Their Name After the IPL and WPL Ownership Change?

In 2024, RCB made a small change to its name after the city officially changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru. Earlier today, reports claimed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could have a new owner before the IPL 2026 season. The news wasn’t a surprise since there had already been talk that Diageo PLC, the current owner, wanted to sell the team.

Will RCB Have to Change Its Name After New Ownership in IPL 2026?

The British company sees RCB as a non-core business and wants to move on. Big names like Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, and Parth Jindal from the JSW Group (co-owner of Delhi Capitals) are said to be interested in buying the franchise. Fans are now worried that a new owner could also mean a new name just like what happened with the Deccan Chargers years ago.

🚨🚨 Bad news for RCB fans:

- There are very high chances that you won't be able to use name of Royal Challengers Bangaluru from 2026 IPL as RCB is all set to be sold.

- Royal Challenge is a whisky brand name owned by Diageo PLC. So, no way a new owner gonna promote someone… pic.twitter.com/IPvj6P6Gtb

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) November 6, 2025

Back in 2008, Vijay Mallya named the team after his whisky brand Royal Challenge, hoping it would promote his product and give the franchise a bold identity.When Mallya stepped down from United Spirits Limited (USL) in 2016, Diageo took full control of the team.

Even then, the name RCB stayed the same, which means a name change isn’t something that has to happen. Still, it can’t be completely ruled out. The franchise is owned under the name Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, and a new owner can choose to rename it if they want.

Recently, the Sun Group renamed their team in The Hundred from Northern Superchargers to Sunrisers Leeds, matching their other cricket teams Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape. If a new owner already runs another cricket team, they might do something similar with RCB. But given RCB’s strong brand, loyal fans, and huge value, most people believe the new owners will keep the Royal Challengers Bengaluru name that fans have loved since 2008.

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