Rajasthan Royals Sold for $1.63 Billion in Historic IPL Deal The Rajasthan Royals, the 2025 IPL champions, are set to be sold for $1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,290 crore), marking the largest-ever transaction in the league’s history. The deal, which is expected to be finalized after approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will take effect following the 2026 IPL season. The new owners are a consortium led by Kalpesh Somani, an Arizona-based tech entrepreneur, who also owns companies like Intrax, TrueYō AI, and Academian. This consortium includes members from the Walmart family and the Ford-Mittal family. The sale price reflects the growing value of the IPL brand, with the Royals’ franchise now worth significantly more than its 2008 purchase price of $67 million (around ₹260-270 crore). Adjusted for inflation, that 2008 valuation would be approximately ₹628 crore today, highlighting a 24-fold increase in the franchise’s value over the past two decades. The current owner, Manoj Badhwal, holds a 65% stake in the team. The sale was announced just days before the start of the new IPL season, with several bidders competing for the rights. Among the contenders were the Times Internet-led consortium, the Aditya Birla Group, and the Mittal family. The transaction is expected to be announced within the next four to five days, according to reliable sources. The Royals’ journey has been marked by both success and challenges. They won their first IPL title in 2008 under the captaincy of Shane Warne, but faced a two-year ban from the league in 2016-2017. In 2022, they reached the final but lost to Gujarat Titans. The new ownership is anticipated to bring fresh investment and strategic direction to the franchise.#rajasthan_royals #board_of_control_for_cricket_in_india #walmart_family #kalpesh_somani #ford_mittal_family
