The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be on the verge of one of its most significant ownership changes yet, with reports suggesting that two franchises are up for sale ahead of the 2026 season. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) intention to seek new buyers has been public knowledge for several weeks, fresh indications point to Rajasthan Royals (RR) also being on the market.

The news about the potential sale of both franchises was highlighted by Harsh Goenka, brother of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka, who took to X, to share his insight.

“I hear, not one, but two IPL teams are now up for sale- RCB and RR. It seems clear that people want to cash in the rich valuations today. So two teams for sale and 4/5 possible buyers! Who will be the successful buyers- will it be from Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru or USA?” he wrote.

RR’s ownership structure is dominated by Royals Sports Group (Emerging Media Sporting Holdings Limited), which holds approximately 65 per cent of the franchise. Minority shareholders include Lachlan Murdoch with 13 per cent and RedBird Capital at 15 per cent. The Royals’ history of ownership is complex; Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra once held a 12 per cent stake before divesting following the 2013 betting scandal that resulted in a two-year suspension of the franchise.

The development has stirred considerable speculation among cricket circles, with potential investors reportedly evaluating the opportunity to enter one of the world’s most lucrative sporting leagues. Analysts suggest that the sale of two high-profile franchises simultaneously could attract both domestic and international bidders, reflecting the increasing commercial appeal of the IPL.

As discussions progress, the cricketing fraternity and fans alike will be watching closely to see who emerges as the new custodians of two of the league’s most prominent teams. (With inputs from Agencies)