Rajasthan Royals Sold For More Than Rs 15,000 Crore, Set To Become Costliest IPL Franchise The Rajasthan Royals have become the most expensive Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in history after a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani acquired the team for over Rs 15,000 crore. The deal, valued at $1.63 billion (Rs 15,286 crore), marks a record-breaking transaction in the league’s history. Somani, founder of IntraEdge, Academian, and Truyo.AI, is backed by American businessman Rob Walton, a member of the Walmart family, and the Hamp family, who own majority stakes in the National Football League (NFL) team Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp, a co-owner of the Ford Motor Company, also has ties to the consortium. The ownership change will take effect after the completion of IPL 2026, with the new ownership structure set to reshape the franchise’s future. This acquisition has positioned Rajasthan Royals as the costliest IPL team ever, surpassing previous records. The deal underscores the growing financial stakes in the league, with franchises increasingly becoming high-value assets in the sports industry. In a related development, Rajasthan Royals have announced Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as the replacement for English all-rounder Sam Curran, who is sidelined due to injury. Shanaka, the T20I captain of Sri Lanka, will join the team for INR 2 crore as Curran’s replacement. The decision comes after Curran was traded to Rajasthan Royals along with Ravindra Jadeja in a deal that saw the franchise acquire Sanju Samson from the inaugural IPL winners, Chennai Super Kings. Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach at Rajasthan Royals, expressed disappointment at losing Curran but praised Shanaka’s credentials.#rajasthan_royals #dasun_shanaka #kal_somani #rob_walton #sheila_ford_hamp
