The race to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is gathering pace, with Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla emerging as the latest contender. In a post on X, Poonawalla said he was keen to buy “one of the best teams in the IPL.”
He joins a growing list of suitors after Diageo, which owns RCB through its subsidiary United Spirits Limited, announced in 2025 its plans to sell the franchise. Poonawalla, a long-time RCB fan, has been expanding investments that boost the global visibility of the Serum Group, following his stake purchase in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions in 2024.
In October 2025, the pharmaceutical billionaire said RCB was a great team at the right valuation, signalling long-standing interest. While Poonawalla has pledged a “strong and competitive” bid, his vague “next few months” timeline adds uncertainty, with RCB set to start their IPL title defence on March 26. Any deal would likely need to be sealed at least a week before the tournament.
Since Diageo put RCB up for sale, several major contenders have emerged, including Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Manipal Group’s Ranjan Pai, who may bid jointly, Karnataka-based Hombale Films with actor Ranbir Kapoor, and the Adani Group, which has been keen to enter the men’s IPL.
