Rajasthan Royals sold for Rs 15,000 crore to US-based entrepreneur: Report

26-Mar-2026

.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) landscape has undergone a seismic shift just days before the 2026 season opener. In a landmark deal that resets the valuation of mid-tier franchises, a majority stake in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) was acquired by a high-powered consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani for a staggering $1.63 billion (approx. Rs 15,000 crore), according to The Times of India.

The deal, overseen by the global investment bank Raine Group, comes after weeks of intense bidding. Somani, a serial tech entrepreneur with deep roots in sports data and AI, was already a minority investor in the franchise. However, this new acquisition, backed by heavyweights including Rob Walton of the Walmart family and the Hamp family (owners of the NFL's Detroit Lions), marks one of the largest private equity entries into Indian sports to date.