Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India and chair of Poonawalla Fincorp, has confirmed he intends to enter the race to buy Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“Over the next few months, will be putting in a strong and competitive bid for RCB, one of the best teams in the IPL,” he posted on X on Thursday. It echoes his comment from October: “at the right price, RCB is a great team.”
Poonawalla, 45, heads the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. The move would extend his sporting interests – he already backs a string of equine and philanthropic ventures – into India’s most-watched domestic competition.
Why is RCB on the market?
Diageo, the multinational drinks group that controls the franchise through Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL), is weighing up its options. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the company said it had begun a “strategic review” of its stake. That process should finish by 31 March 2026, the close of the Indian financial year.
An expensive, popular brand
Back in 2008 RCB fetched USD 111.6 million, the second-highest price in the inaugural IPL auction. Since then the brand has built a substantial following, helped by star names and a loyal Bengaluru fan base. Harsha Bhogle, speaking on television last season, called the club “one of the league’s biggest commercial engines”.
Success — at last
The men’s side finally lifted the IPL trophy in 2025 and will defend it in April. The women’s team claimed the WPL crown in 2024 and currently lead the 2026 standings.
Yet uncertainty lingers over next season’s home venue. A stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during last June’s victory parade left 11 dead, and local authorities have still not guaranteed clearance for IPL 2026 fixtures.
What happens next?
Poonawalla’s interest is unlikely to be the only offer. Private-equity funds and two other Indian conglomerates have been linked, though none has gone public. A senior BCCI official, not authorised to speak on record, said bidders would need to “show robust plans for both the men’s and women’s teams, plus community engagement around Bengaluru”.
For now, the ball sits with Diageo. If the drinks giant decides to sell, an auction could be fast-tracked before the 2026 season, giving any new owner just months to settle staff and player contracts. Poonawalla, however, sounds ready. As he put it, “Over the next few months” he will press ahead – and that timetable fits neatly with Diageo’s own review.
