Lalit Modi Makes Stunning Claim About Popular IPL Franchise: ‘Owners Have Decided To…’ | Cricket News

2025 is turning out to be an eventful year for the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru – for both good and wrong reasons. While RCB ended their IPL trophy drought by clinching a maiden title earlier this year, the joyous occasion quickly devolved into a major tragedy when a stampede during their title celebrations in Bengaluru left 11 dead and several others injured.

Now, former IPL boss Lalit Modi has claimed that owners of RCB have taken a final call on offloading the franchise from their balance sheet. In a lengthy post on social media, Modi said the Diageo Plc, the current owners, are seeking buyers.

“There have been a lot of rumour (sic) about the sale of an @IPL franchise specifically @RCBTweets – well in the past they have been denied. But it seems the owners have finally decided to take it off their balance sheet and sell it,” Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

This isn’t the first time that the rumours of RCB being sold have surfaced. Earlier this year, various news media outlets reported that Diageo Plc are in talks with several prospective investors.

“I am sure having won the IPL last season and also with its strong base of fans and off course the Team itself and a great management team – it could be the only Team which would be available as a whole as an#ipl franchise. I am sure one of the Big Global funds or a Sovereign Fund would desperately like to have them as part of their investment strategy and India strategy,” Modi wrote.

“There can be no better investment opportunity I could think of then this one. Good luck to whoever can get their hands on to it. It definitely will set a new record valuation which will just go to show that IPL is the not only the fastest growing Global Sporting league but also the most valuable. That new price that #rcb sets will become the new floor price for all teams. Good to luck to all,” he added.