As global liquor giant Diageo officially begins the process of selling Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), speculation has intensified around who might take over the reigning IPL champions. Among the frontrunners is Nikhil Kamath, the billionaire cofounder of Zerodha, India’s largest stockbroking platform, and a proud Kannadiga deeply rooted in Bengaluru’s business ecosystem.
Reports suggest Kamath could form a consortium with Ranjan Pai, Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group, and possibly Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, to bid for RCB. Their local presence and financial strength could make them ideal candidates to take charge of a franchise now valued at over $1 billion.
Nikhil Kamath’s net worth and business empire
According to Forbes (2025), Nikhil Kamath’s net worth stands at $2.49 billion (approximately Rs 20,700 crore), ranking him #1573 globally and #116 in India. The 39-year-old entrepreneur was born in Udupi, Karnataka, and co-founded Zerodha in 2010 with his brother Nithin Kamath, disrupting the brokerage space with a discount model that revolutionized Indian retail investing.
Kamath later diversified his business portfolio by launching True Beacon in 2020, an asset management firm for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and Gruhas in 2021, a real estate and prop-tech investment company.
Why Kamath’s name makes sense for RCB
As a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and lifelong cricket enthusiast, Kamath represents the local face investors are seeking — someone who can align RCB’s brand identity with the city’s tech and finance-driven energy. His inclusion could also enhance fan engagement and attract younger investors into the IPL ecosystem.
RCB, led by Virat Kohli, remains one of the IPL’s most valuable franchises with a brand value of $269 million and a passionate global fanbase.
If the deal materializes, Kamath’s entry into IPL ownership would not only mark a new era for RCB but also signal how India’s next-generation billionaires are shaping the future of sports business.
