Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar shut down the rumours about him buying the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a unique style. His reaction came a day after the RCB owners, Diageo India — the Indian arm of UK-based Diageo Plc — responded to speculation that part or all of the IPL franchise was up for sale.
RCB recently won their maiden IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, 2025.
"I am not a mad man. I'm just a member of the Karnataka Cricket Association from my younger days, that's all. I don't have time, though I had offers to be part of the management... Why do I need RCB? I don't even drink Royal Challenge," Shivakumar told news agency ANI.
Earlier this week, a report in Bloomberg claimed that the British distiller was in discussion with potential advisers on selling the club. Diageo owns the team through its Indian unit, United Spirits Ltd., and may seek a valuation of up to $2 billion.
After the rumours, the shares of United Spirits, registered with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), gained a 3.3 per cent increase in their price, hitting a five-month high on Tuesday morning. This forced the BSE to send out a mail to Diageo, who then responded, saying the reports were merely speculative in nature.
Mital Sanghvi, the company secretary, informed the regulating body of the Indian Stock Market on the mail saying, "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion. This is for your information and records."
RCB are currently facing a lot of criticism after their maiden IPL win, as 11 fans lost their lives in a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru when the team was celebrating their victory at their home ground on June 4.