US Entrepreneur Kal Somani-Led Consortium Buys Rajasthan Royals for $1.63B, Highlighting IPL’s Global Appeal
In a major ownership shift in the Indian Premier League, a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani has secured the winning bid to acquire the Rajasthan Royals. The Somani-led group outbid strong competition, including a bid backed by the Aditya Birla Group and another from the Times Group. The successful offer is believed to be in the region of $1.63 billion, with the ownership transition expected to be completed by June. Somani is not new to the franchise, having been an investor in Rajasthan Royals since 2021. His business portfolio spans sectors such as ed-tech, artificial intelligence governance, data privacy, and sports technology. He is the founder of ventures like IntraEdge, Truyo, Truyo.AI, and Academian. The consortium also includes prominent global investors such as Rob Walton of the Walmart family, along with members of the Hamp family, which controls the Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp, a key figure in that group, is part of the consortium and belongs to the Ford Motor Company founding family. Beyond cricket, Somani has been actively involved in sports investments, including co-owning Motor City Golf Club and backing emerging ventures such as TMRW Sports and the TGL Golf League. This acquisition once again highlights the growing global appeal of the IPL, which continues to attract high-profile international investors and is widely considered one of the most valuable sporting leagues worldwide.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Honour Stampede Victims with ‘11’ Tribute at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Return
Royal Challengers Bengaluru CEO Rajesh Menon announced a series of tributes to honour the 11 fans who lost their lives in last year’s tragic incident outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the franchise prepares for its return to the venue after a long gap, Menon said these gestures are meant to ensure the victims are remembered throughout the season and to acknowledge the emotional impact the tragedy had on the club and its supporters. Speaking ahead of the new season, Menon said, “In memory of the 11 fans who we lost on June 4, the players will be wearing jersey number 11 for the practice, on the game day, and on the practice time before the match. So all the players will have jersey number 11 on the back, not for the game but for the practice.” He added that the tribute will extend into matchdays as well, “Apart from that, they will also be wearing a black armband on that day. We are also looking at 11 permanent seats remaining empty at Chinnaswamy Stadium permanently. This is for the 11 fans who will be with us forever. That’s a quick update on what we are doing this year.” Menon also confirmed that the franchise has introduced several precautionary measures this season, with further discussions planned on additional support for the victims’ families. The tribute comes in the aftermath of the tragic 2025 Bengaluru stampede on June 4, 2025, when massive crowds gathered outside the stadium to celebrate RCB’s title win. The situation spiralled into a deadly stampede, claiming 11 lives and injuring more than 50 people, with an estimated 300,000 fans present. Following the incident, the Government of Karnataka held RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and event partners accountable for lapses, including failure to secure proper permissions. The franchise later announced compensation of ₹25 lakh for each of the deceased fans’ families. After not hosting matches since the tragedy, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to welcome back RCB games this season with official approval. The team will play five matches in Bengaluru, while two home fixtures will take place in Raipur as previously scheduled.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Rule Out Yash Dayal for IPL 2026 Amid Sexual Assault Allegations; Contract Still Intact
Royal Challengers Bengaluru director of cricket Mo Bobat has made it clear that Yash Dayal will not be part of the squad for the IPL 2026 season, even though the franchise has kept him under contract. Putting an end to speculation about his absence from pre-season training, Bobat stated, “So, just to confirm that Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we’ve been very supportive of Yash to date, and that’s reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players.” He emphasized that the franchise had deliberately chosen to keep Dayal, “We wanted to retain him, and he remains under contract and will continue in the short term to remain under contract.” Bobat also highlighted ongoing communication with the player while explaining the decision. “We are communicating with him regularly. I spoke to him earlier today as well, but it has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise’s best interest for him to join up with us at this point.” Reassuring continued backing from the franchise, he added, “He retains our support, and he remains under contract, and we’ll continue to speak to him as he goes through his personal situation.” Dayal, who played a key role in RCB’s 2025 title-winning campaign with 13 wickets, has not played since the final. His absence is due to ongoing legal issues that have prevented him from competing in cricket. For RCB, this creates a significant gap in the bowling attack. His left-arm pace had added variety alongside experienced names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spin options such as Krunal Pandya. With Dayal unavailable and no option to sign a replacement due to his active contract, the team will now depend more heavily on players like Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Duffy, Romario Shepherd, and others. Despite the situation, RCB’s decision to retain Dayal indicates they are not cutting ties. His return to cricket will depend entirely on how his personal and legal matters unfold, while the team shifts focus to adjusting its strategy ahead of the IPL 2026 season, starting March 28. Dayal was booked under two significant criminal cases, referring to him as being involved in sexual exploitation. The initial FIR was registered at the Indirapuram Police Station, Ghaziabad, in July 2025. He was accused of physical and mental exploitation in a five-year-long relationship under the false promise of marriage. Followed by another allegation involving him sexually assaulting a teenager multiple times in 2023. The FIR was booked from Jaipur under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This allegation included an incident during the IPL 2025. In the Ghaziabad case, the Allahabad High Court granted relief to Yash Dayal by staying his arrest. However, in the Jaipur case, a POCSO court denied his anticipatory bail plea in December 2025, citing the seriousness of the evidence and the ongoing investigation.