The world’s richest cricket board, the BCCI, has once again received a massive influx of money. Ahead of the start of IPL 2026, the BCCI’s coffers have swelled further. The sale of two IPL teams is expected to bring in over 1,000 crore rupees. On March 24th, two IPL teams, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, found new owners, and both were purchased for historic sums. The sale of these two franchises has generated a substantial sum for the BCCI.
How Much Money Did the BCCI Receive?
In the IPL, when a team changes ownership, a 5% fee must be paid to the BCCI. According to this rule, RCB was sold for 16,660 crore rupees. 5% of this amount is 833 crore rupees. The Rajasthan Royals was sold for approximately 15,000 crore rupees, netting the BCCI 750 crore rupees. This means the BCCI has received 1,583 crore rupees from the sale of these two teams.
RCB becomes the most expensive team
March 24th was a historic day for Indian cricket and the IPL. Both Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore were sold for a combined total of ₹31,000 crore (approximately $3.1 billion). Royal Challengers Bangalore sold for $1.78 billion, becoming the most expensive cricket team in history. Rajasthan Royals sold for $1.63 billion, becoming the second most expensive team.
Who are the new owners of RCB and Rajasthan Royals?
The Aditya Birla Group, American sports investor David Blitzer, and American private equity firm Blackstone jointly purchased the RCB franchise. RCB’s former owner, United Spirits, had put the franchise up for sale just months after winning the IPL 2025 title. Regarding the Rajasthan Royals, Kal Somani’s group purchased the team for ₹15,000 crore (approximately $15 billion). This agreement will take effect after IPL 2026, and Manoj Bajpayee will remain the owner until the end of the upcoming season.
