Man United owner Avram Glazer leading RCB bidding war with THIS HUGE BID - Reports

Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to acquire RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have once again become the hottest property in the Indian Premier League—but this time, the action is unfolding far away from the cricket field.

Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer is reportedly leading the bidding war for the IPL 2025 champions by submitting a massive proposal of ₹16,303 crore ($1.8 billion) to buy the franchise.

According to Times Now, the Glazer family is currently leading the race in a highly competitive bidding process involving several global investors.

Reports suggest that at least nine parties have submitted non-binding bids, with valuations ranging from $1 billion to nearly $2 billion, underlining RCB’s status as one of the most commercially powerful teams in world cricket.

The Glazers’ interest in Indian cricket is well-established. Through Lancer Capital, Avram Glazer already owns the Desert Vipers in the UAE’s ILT20 league, but owning an IPL franchise has long been viewed as the ultimate goal.

Their ambition dates back to 2021, when they unsuccessfully bid for one of the IPL’s expansion teams. Four years on, with IPL valuations exploding, the family appears better positioned—and more aggressive—than ever before.

RCB’s recent IPL and WPL success drives valuations close to the $2 billion mark

RCB’s transformation over the past year has played a pivotal role in driving this surge in interest. After years of falling short despite massive fan support, the Bengaluru-based franchise finally clinched their maiden IPL title in 2025. That triumph was quickly followed by another Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, reinforcing RCB’s dominance across formats and genders.

Beyond trophies, the Royal Challengers remain one of the IPL’s strongest brands. The franchise boasts one of the largest fanbases in global T20 cricket, fueled by years of loyalty and the enduring star power of Virat Kohli. Strong sponsorship deals, merchandising potential, and global recognition have made RCB a dream acquisition for international sports investors.

The RCB bidding war includes multiple international investors: Lancer Capital owned by Avram Glazer; Manipal Group owned by Ranjan Pai; Adar Poonawalla, who owns Serum Institute of India, Times of India Group, EQT Private Capital, Capri Global, Sanjay Govil, the US-based businessman who owns Washington Freedom in MLC and Welsh Fire in Hundred, and the private equity firm Premji Invest.

With bids approaching the $2 billion mark and Avram Glazer reportedly leading the race, the sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru is shaping up to be one of the most significant and high-stakes franchise deals in the history of Indian sport.

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