BENGALURU : Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in no hurry to follow rivals into overseas franchise leagues, with the team’s new ownership group prioritising fan engagement and local growth before considering international expansion.
A consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, Times of India, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone completed the acquisition of the franchise for $1.78 billion in March, ending United Spirits’ long association with the team.
While IPL powerhouses such as Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have expanded into franchise leagues in the United States, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean, RCB are taking a more measured approach.
“Don’t think we have any plans as of now. We’re a bit ahead of ourselves as we’re still focusing on closing the transaction and then thinking about where we’re going from there,” Times Internet Chairman and RCB co-owner Satyan Gajwani told Reuters.
“I think RCB as a brand is very centred around Bengaluru and around cricket.”
Gajwani acknowledged that the franchise has the potential to develop a broader international footprint but said no decision had been made on the best route to achieve that.
“The RCB brand warrants a global presence and that could be through other forms like academies that we could do on the ground, it could also be potentially through expanding into franchise cricket and other markets,” he said.
“It’s still a little bit in the air to decide whether or not we want to do that.”
RCB have enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, ending a 17-year wait for the men’s IPL title last season before successfully defending the trophy this year. Their women’s side has also emerged as a dominant force, winning championships in 2024 and 2026.
Despite those achievements, Gajwani said the immediate challenge is strengthening the connection with supporters and extending engagement beyond the IPL’s two-month season.
A key issue remains access to tickets at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 33,800 and regularly sells out.
“One of the issues we have is the stadium can only fit as many people and it’s not easy to buy tickets for RCB games,” Gajwani said.
“So, hopefully, we’ll find ways to grow the stadium and ways to bring more fans into it.”
The comments suggest RCB’s new owners are focused on consolidating the franchise’s position in Bengaluru before pursuing opportunities in the rapidly expanding global franchise cricket landscape.
