Indian American tech entrepreneur Sanjay Govil has emerged as a strong contender to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions of the 2025 Indian Premier League, according to a report in The Telegraph. Govil, in partnership with Glamorgan Cricket Club, the co-owners of the Hundred franchise Welsh Fire, is actively exploring opportunities to expand their international cricket holdings.
Earlier this year, the England and Wales Cricket Board sold stakes in the Hundred franchises. Welsh Fire was ultimately valued at just over £84 million ($112 million), with Govil and Glamorgan each securing a 50 per cent ownership share.
Now, the two partners are looking to build a broader global cricket portfolio. While they are reportedly eyeing future stake sales in Australia’s Big Bash League, their primary target is RCB, widely regarded as one of the most valuable and recognizable brands in the IPL.
RCB enjoys the largest social-media following among IPL teams, commands premium ticket prices, and maintains a strong commercial footprint. Industry insiders estimate that the franchise could fetch as much as $2 billion in a sale, placing it among the most expensive cricket assets in the world.
Govil, a longtime resident of Potomac, Maryland, is best known as the founder of Infinite, a digital engineering and IT services company. He entered the cricket world in 2023 when he became a founding investor in Major League Cricket (MLC) and acquired Washington Freedom, currently the only MLC franchise not owned by an IPL team. Under the leadership of coach Ricky Ponting and captain Steve Smith, Washington Freedom won the 2024 MLC title and finished as runners-up in 2025. The team works closely with Welsh Fire, even sharing senior staff members such as Australian administrator Michael Klinger.
Diageo, the multinational beverage company that owns RCB, recently announced that it is conducting a “strategic review” of its investment in the franchise. The review is expected to conclude by March of next year, potentially signaling an opening for new owners of both RCB and its Women’s Premier League team.
When asked about their interest, Glamorgan chairman Mark Rhydderch-Roberts declined to comment on specific franchise pursuits but emphasized that Fire and Freedom intend to actively participate in the consolidation of global cricket assets while continuing to build shareholder value.
If Govil and Glamorgan proceed, they could soon become key players in one of the world’s most lucrative cricket leagues.
