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Reports suggest actress in talks for 3% stake as Diageo reviews franchise ownership
January 24, 2026: Speculation is rife around Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after reports claimed that Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma is in discussions to acquire a minority stake in the IPL franchise. The proposed deal is said to involve a 3% share, valuing the Virat Kohli-associated team at nearly ₹400 crore for that portion. The buzz comes amid growing interest in RCB’s ownership structure following its recent on-field and commercial success.
The development coincides with Diageo-owned United Spirits, which controls RCB, informing SEBI about a strategic review of its investment. The move has fuelled talks of a potential sale or restructuring of one of the IPL’s most valuable brands, a process expected to conclude by March 2026. With RCB’s brand value soaring after title wins by both the men’s IPL team and the women’s WPL side, investor interest has intensified.
However, any stake purchase by Anushka Sharma could face regulatory scrutiny due to the BCCI’s conflict-of-interest rules. Active players are barred from holding stakes in franchises, and Virat Kohli’s central role in RCB raises questions over whether a spouse’s investment could be viewed as an indirect interest. While experts believe technical pathways may exist, any such move would likely be closely examined by the BCCI’s ethics officials as RCB enters a potentially transformative phase of ownership.