Bengaluru: The owners of Premier League club Manchester United have emerged as one of the leading contenders to acquire the Indian Premier League’s defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, submitting a reported $1.8 billion (around ₹16,300 crore) bid for the cricket franchise, according to multiple reports.
The offer, believed to have come from the Glazer family — co-owners of the English football giant — through their investment vehicle Lancer Capital, is said to be among the highest in a competitive non-binding bidding process that has attracted interest from at least nine parties globally.
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RCB’s current owners, Diageo (via United Spirits Ltd.), initiated a formal review of the franchise’s ownership late last year after the team completed a breakthrough 2025 season in which it clinched its maiden IPL title and followed it up with success in the Women’s Premier League. The heightened sporting profile has, in turn, significantly increased the franchise’s commercial value.
Industry sources say non-binding bids for the Bengaluru side have ranged roughly between $1 billion and $1.8 billion, highlighting the intense interest in one of the most popular brands in world cricket. The Glazer bid at the top of this range positions them as frontrunners ahead of the next round of the process, which sources say could include binding offers and negotiations over deal structure.
A franchise’s non-binding bid profile is typically used to shortlist serious contenders before inviting firm offers. While these early bids create market momentum, they do not compel either party to proceed to a transaction at the quoted figure.
The Glazer family’s sporting portfolio already extends beyond Manchester United. They also own the Desert Vipers franchise in the UAE’s ILT20 league, underscoring their growing interest in global cricket assets.
Among other reported bidders are noted Indian business figures, including Adar Poonawalla, whose prospective bid for the franchise has also been flagged in industry conversations.
Questions remain about how much of RCB’s ownership might be transferred in any eventual deal, including whether the winning bidder would assume full control or a significant minority stake. Current owners are said to be working with transaction advisers as part of a process that could conclude before the start of the next IPL season.
RCB’s decision to explore a sale follows years of fan passion and commercial evolution, with the franchise now among the most valuable in the league. The timing — immediately after the club’s first major title in its history — is widely interpreted as an attempt to capitalise on peak brand strength and financial valuation.
If the Glazer family’s bid is successful, it would mark one of the most notable cross-sport ownership moves in recent history — bringing a storied European football brand into Indian cricket’s lucrative franchise ecosystem. Such a deal could also deepen collaboration between global sporting properties, potentially opening doors to joint marketing, merchandising and fan engagement initiatives across cricket and football markets.
With the bidding process still ongoing, RCB’s future ownership remains subject to formal negotiations and regulatory approvals, including compliance with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) franchise norms and clearance of any transaction structure that influences multiple teams.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
