RCB Ownership: In his signature witty style, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed the rumors about him buying the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL franchise. When asked about the speculation, Shivakumar quipped, “Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge.”

The Congress leader clarified that while he has been associated with the Karnataka Cricket Association (KCA) since his youth and has even received offers to join the team’s management, he simply doesn’t have the time. “I’m not insane. I joined the Karnataka Cricket Association when I was young. They offered me a management role, but I don’t have time for it,” he said. “Why would I want RCB?”

By making light of the situation and firmly rejecting any interest in buying the franchise, Shivakumar put an end to the swirling speculation. His remarks reaffirm that his current focus remains strictly on politics and governance, not cricket ownership.

Take a look at the post:

DK Shivakumar on people's demand for him to buy RCB franchise.

Last line is epic 😅pic.twitter.com/V20l3M1CAi

— 👑Che_Krishna🇮🇳💛❤️ (@CheKrishnaCk_) June 11, 2025

DK Shivakumar Buying RCB Franchise?

Rumors started circulating shortly after Diageo Plc, the British distiller and current owner of RCB through its Indian subsidiary United Spirits Ltd., reportedly considered selling all or part of the franchise. Industry sources estimated the franchise’s value at up to $2 billion and revealed that Diageo began consulting potential advisers to explore a sale. As speculation grew, United Spirits’ stock price on the Bombay Stock Exchange rose noticeably. In response, the company issued a statement denying any official discussions and dismissed the reports as purely speculative.

Also Read: Vijay Mallya Reveals Story Behind RCB and Virat Kohli

RCB Franchise Worth:

The RCB franchise, which is worth around ₹8,600 crore (about $1 billion), has recently been in the news because of a deadly stampede involving Bengaluru fans as well as ownership rumors. Thousands of spectators flocked to Chinnaswamy Stadium to see Virat Kohli and the Rajat Patidar-led team with the IPL trophy that RCB had finally won after eighteen years, resulting in eleven fatalities and fifty-six injuries. The franchise’s response to the incident and the compensation provided to the families of the victims caused public outrage. The senior management of the franchise has, however, mostly avoided the public eye, which has fueled rumors and criticism.

Also Read: Is RCB on Sale? Diageo Reportedly Looking to Sell IPL Franchise

Share

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•