A storm is brewing in the cricket business world — two of the Indian Premier League’s most iconic franchises could soon change hands. And if early chatter is anything to go by, the 2026 IPL season might usher in one of the biggest ownership reshuffles in the league’s history. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing — it’s not just one team making headlines anymore. Fans and investors alike are buzzing over which heavyweights might join this high-stakes game of musical chairs.
Following the surprising announcement that the reigning 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are officially on the market, new speculation now points toward another founding IPL team — Rajasthan Royals (RR) — potentially being up for sale. The talk picked up momentum after business personality Harsh Goenka, elder brother of Lucknow Super Giants’ owner Sanjiv Goenka, hinted at this development on X (formerly Twitter).
Goenka’s post declared, “I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are up for grabs — RCB and RR. People seem eager to cash in on these sky-high valuations. So, two teams on the table and four or five interested buyers! Who’s going to clinch the deal — investors from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, or perhaps even the USA?” His statement set social media abuzz, sparking debates over whether this could reshape the IPL’s ownership structure for good.
The Jaipur-based Rajasthan Royals franchise currently belongs to Royals Sports Group (Emerging Media Sporting Holdings Limited), which holds a 65% majority stake. The rest of the ownership lies with minority stakeholders, including media magnate Lachlan Murdoch and global investment firm RedBird Capital Partners. While RCB is reportedly valued at a staggering 2 billion USD, the exact selling price being considered for RR remains under wraps. Still, analysts suggest that changing hands could lead to massive restructuring, not just in management but possibly in operational strategy as well.
Interestingly, the franchise’s internal challenges might play a part in the sale decision. Rumors indicate growing differences between the team’s management and the Rajasthan Cricket Association, raising the possibility that RR’s home matches could be relocated from Jaipur to Pune. If this happens, it would mark a significant cultural and logistical shift for the team and its fans.
And here’s the part most people are missing — could this wave of sales signal a broader trend of corporate realignment in Indian cricket? With billion-dollar valuations and global investors circling, IPL franchises are slowly turning into lucrative business assets rather than just sports teams. Yet, some purists argue that this commercialization may dilute the spirit of regional loyalty that once defined the IPL experience.
Do you think this changing ownership landscape is good for cricket’s future — or is it becoming too much of a business game? Share your thoughts below — should legacy matter more than money in the IPL?
