New Delhi: Diageo India, the Indian branch of UK-based liquor giant Diageo Plc, has denied the reports of a stake sale or complete sale of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Diageo owns RCB, which is one of the most popular franchises in the IPL and recently won its maiden title after winning the 2025 edition of the tournament.
The reports of Diageo Plc considering a stake or a complete sale of RCB went viral on Tuesday, June 10, a week after the franchise ended an 18-year-long wait for their maiden IPL trophy after beating Punjab Kings in the final. Diageo owns RCB through United Spirits in India. The shares of United Spirits jumped over 3 per cent on Tuesday following the news of RCB’s sale.
However, Diageo India has issued a clarification, calling the reports of RCB’s sale speculative in nature. In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the BSE Surveillance Department on Tuesday, Diageo India said there are currently no ongoing discussions in the company regarding a stake sale in RCB.
“This has reference to your email communication dated 10th June 2025 seeking clarification from the Company on media reports in relation to potential stake sale of RCB. The Company would like to clarify that aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussions,” Mital Sanghvi, Diageo India’s company secretary, informed BSE in a letter.
A report in Bloomberg claimed Diageo is exploring all options regarding a stake or a complete sale of the RCB franchise. The report came days after RCB’s maiden IPL title victory, and in the backdrop of widespread criticism for the franchise after a tragic stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed 11 lives amid their IPL title celebrations at the venue.
The report claimed that Diageo was seeking a valuation of up to USD 2 billion (Approx Rs 17,000 crore) for the sale of RCB, which is one of the founding teams of the IPL and has been part of the tournament since its inception in 2008. However, the report also added that the final decision had not been made yet, and Diageo might decide against selling the franchise.
How Diageo became the owner of RCB?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, formerly known as Royal Challengers Bangalore, is one of the most popular IPL franchises that was originally bought by liquor baron Vijay Mallya ahead of the inaugural IPL season in 2008. Diageo took over Mallya’s spirits business in India following the downfall of Kingfisher Airlines in 2012. After taking over United Spirits, Diageo also became the owners of RCB which was owned by the spirits company.
Diageo India has categorically denied teh reports of a stake sale in the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Diageo India owns RCB through United Spirits India. Reports of the the liquor giant considering the sale of the IPL team had gone viral on Tuesday. IPL Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
