From RCB to CSK: IPL 2026 Team Valuations, Who Owns Which Franchise, and How Much Are They Worth?

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, two record-breaking deals happened, which once again proved why it is called the richest T20 league in the world. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the most valuable team after a huge $1.78 billion deal. Before that, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) was valued at a $1.63 billion acquisition.

The IPL 2026 is all set to start from March 28, 2026, and the opening match of the tournament will be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

RCB Becomes the Most Valuable IPL Team

The IPL 2025 winner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has now been acquired by a consortium including Aditya Birla Group, David Blitzer, Blackstone and Times of India Group. It was a massive $1.78 billion (Rs. 16,600 crore) deal, and it made RCB the most expensive IPL team in history.

RCB’s brand value has grown massively over the years; it has a huge fan base and star players like Virat Kohli. The deal includes both the men's & women’s teams of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

United Spirits Limited (USL) was the previous owner of RCB, and they confirmed that this new deal and franchise will now be fully owned and operated by a new consortium. RCB’s journey has been quite interesting. Back in 2008, the franchise was bought by Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries Group for around $111 million.

Rajasthan Royals’ Record Deal

Before RCB, the Rajasthan Royals were the most valuable franchise after their $.163 billion sale (around Rs. 15,000 crore). The franchise was acquired by US-based businessman Kal Somani, backed by big names like Rob Walton and the Hamp Family. However, RR will be managed by the current management, and the new owners will come into effect after the IPL 2026.

Rajasthan Royals were the champions of the first IPL season in 2008, and from a valuation of just $67 million in 2008 to over $1.6 billion in 2026, the franchise has been a massive financial success. With these two massive deals, IPL is now reaching a new stage in global sports.

IPL 2026 Team Owners and Valuation