Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla Announces Plans to Bid for Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL Franchise
In a significant development in the world of Indian cricket and business, Adar Poonawalla, the Chief Executive Officer of the Serum Institute of India, has publicly declared his intention to submit a "strong and competitive bid" for the acquisition of the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The announcement was made via a post on the social media platform X on Thursday, marking a potential shift in ownership for one of the league's most iconic teams.
Poonawalla's Public Declaration and Historical Interest
Poonawalla's statement on X read: "Over the next few months, I will be putting in a STRONG and COMPETITIVE bid for @RCBTweets, one of the best teams in the IPL." This move follows his earlier hint in October last year, where he posted: "At the right valuation, @RCBTweets is a great team." These communications underscore a calculated interest that has been brewing for months, positioning Poonawalla as a serious contender in the upcoming bidding process.
Background: Diageo's Strategic Review and RCB's Sale
The opportunity for acquisition arises from a strategic decision by Diageo, the parent company of United Spirits Ltd. (USL), to put RCB on the market. This development came shortly after RCB's historic first IPL title win in 2025, which ended the franchise's long-standing wait for the trophy. In November last year, United Spirits Ltd., under Diageo's ownership, announced it would conduct a strategic review of its investment in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), the entity that owns the RCB franchise.
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange on November 5, 2025, Diageo described this as a "Strategic Review of the Investment in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL)." The disclosure elaborated: "USL is initiating a strategic review of the investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, RCSPL. RCSPL's business comprises ownership of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise teams that participate in the men's Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annually."
RCB's Legacy and Market Position
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has cemented its status as one of the IPL's most popular and valuable franchises since the league's inception in 2008. Key highlights of its legacy include:
- Iconic Players: Over the years, RCB has been represented by cricketing legends such as Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Faf du Plessis, contributing to its massive fan following.
- Historical Acquisition: When the IPL launched, RCB was the second-most expensive franchise, purchased by Vijay Mallya, then chairman of United Spirits, for $111.6 million in 2007. The franchise later came under Diageo's control following the company's takeover of United Spirits Ltd.
- On-Field Achievements: RCB plays its home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The team's maiden IPL title in 2025 was a landmark achievement, adding to its previous runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016. Additionally, RCB won the Women's Premier League (WPL) title in 2024, showcasing its success across both men's and women's cricket.
Implications and Future Prospects
Poonawalla's bid represents a convergence of corporate interest and sports investment, potentially bringing new leadership to a franchise with a rich history. As the strategic review by Diageo progresses, stakeholders in the cricketing community will be closely monitoring the bidding process, which could reshape the ownership landscape of the IPL. This move also highlights the growing appeal of IPL franchises as lucrative assets for high-profile business leaders, further elevating the league's commercial stature.
