Rajasthan Royals $1.65B Sale Beats Bid; RCB $1.8B Deal
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- Rajasthan Royals sold to Laxmi Mittal and Adar Poonawalla for $1.65 billion, beating a US consortium led by Kal Somani and backed by Walmart’s Rob Walton.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru changed hands to Blackstone and sports investor David Blitzer in a $1.8 billion deal, marking the second billion‑dollar IPL franchise sale this year.
- IPL league valuation is estimated at $18.5 billion, making it the second‑most valuable sports league per match after the NFL, according to Deloitte.
- CVC Capital realized a 350 % return after selling its 67 % stake in Gujarat Titans, highlighting rapid capital gains in IPL franchises.
- RCB delivered a 37‑fold return on investment after being sold for 166 billion rupees, underscoring the high upside for owners despite limited on‑field success.
Why it matters: Investors capture outsized profits while Indian cricket gains capital inflows; US bidders lose marquee deals, and franchise owners see multi‑digit returns that fuel further commercialization of the sport.
