RCB sale: Why the road ahead is anything but smooth for Diageo India | Cricket News – The Times of India – Bns Sections.

Even as Diageo India expects the patrons to queue up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one of IPL’s most useful franchises, the road ahead does not look smooth at the second. Chinnaswamy Stadium, dwelling of the franchise, is nestled in all kinds of hassle and is set to be neglected for the 2026 T20 World Cup, months after the Maharaja Trophy and Women’s ODI World Cup matches had been additionally not staged in the metropolis. While the official venue listing for the T20 World Cup is but to be introduced by the International Cricket Council, it is understood that Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad have been shortlisted for the multi-nation occasion early subsequent 12 months.

RCB, a direct subsidy of Diageo India, is desperately seeking to wriggle out of an unsightly political storm in the aftermath of the stampede which occurred exterior the venue in June. The franchise received their first Indian Premier League title final season but the celebrations had been marred by an unregulated crowd going out of management, main to at least one of the most obnoxious incidents in India’s cricketing historical past.11 followers misplaced their lives and a number of had been injured in the unlucky incident on June 4. Ever since that day, excessive-profile cricket has stayed away from Bengaluru. The matter had snowballed right into a warfare of phrases between the state’s political leaders and has compelled RCB’s guardian firm to look for a purchaser.In a communication to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on November 5, the UK-based mostly firm known as it a “Strategic Review of the Investment in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL),” a completely owned firm of United Spirits Ltd., the Indian subsidiary of Diageo.In its disclosure, the firm stated, “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.”Even although it has been indicated {that a} strategic evaluation could be accomplished by the finish of this monetary 12 months, it is understood that RCB might push for a direct sale of the franchise. The BCCI is prone to take crucial steps in the coming week and it is additional learnt that bankers have already been knowledgeable. As of now, JSW Group, Adar Poonawalla (of the Serum Institute of India) and Manipal Hospitals are in the race. Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath’s identify was additionally linked but it is learnt that he will not be instantly concerned at the second.