Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has denied the speculation around him buying the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL franchise. Responding to the rumours, Shivakumar made a light-hearted remark that quickly grabbed attention on social media.
He told news agency ANI, “I am not a mad man. I’m just a member of the Karnataka Cricket Association from my younger days, that’s all. I don’t have time, though I had offers to be part of the management… Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge.”
Rumours triggered by report on RCB sale
Shivakumar’s comment came a day after RCB’s parent company, Diageo India, issued a clarification about reports suggesting the franchise was up for sale. A Bloomberg report earlier this week claimed that Diageo was in talks with advisers to explore selling part or all of the RCB team, with a potential valuation of up to 2 billion dollars.
Following the report, shares of United Spirits Ltd., Diageo’s Indian arm, rose by 3.3 percent, reaching a five-month high. This led the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to seek an official clarification from the company.
Diageo calls sale rumours speculative
In response to the BSE, Diageo’s company secretary Mital Sanghvi stated that the reports were speculative and that the company was not pursuing any such discussions. The statement was submitted to the exchange for record purposes, in compliance with disclosure norms.
RCB’s win and parade marred by tragedy
These developments come just days after RCB’s historic IPL 2025 win. On June 3, RCB lifted their maiden IPL trophy by defeating Punjab Kings in the final held in Ahmedabad. Led by Rajat Patidar, the team’s victory was celebrated with a massive parade in Bengaluru the next day.
Over 2.5 lakh fans gathered in and around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the celebration, but the event took a tragic turn when a stampede occurred outside the venue. Eleven people died and 56 others were injured, leading to widespread criticism of crowd management.
Conclusion
DK Shivakumar’s humorous denial of the RCB ownership rumours has brought temporary closure to the speculation. While Diageo has clearly stated that it has no plans to sell the team, the franchise continues to remain in the spotlight following its first title win and the unfortunate events that followed. Whether or not further changes happen within the RCB management, the team’s rising value and visibility ensure it will stay in the headlines.
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