It is understood that both Nikhil and Ranjan may form a consortium to make the bid. There have already been a lot of speculations about who could take over the Bengaluru-based franchise, and this development only adds to the buzz around the topic.
Nikhil is the co-founder of Zerodha, while Ranjan heads the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), as reported by The Times of India. Both Nikhil and Ranjan hail from Karnataka, the home state of the RCB franchise. The franchise is expected to be valued well above the $1 billion to $1.2 billion mark. There is no doubt that the two personalities have sufficient financial power to participate in the bidding act.
According to analysts, any potential buyer or consortium will be successful in building a strong brand through its connection with the local fan base across India. It is also believed that credibility is being gained as far as the political and business brotherhoods of Karnataka are concerned. The same report also suggests that a consortium involving Nikhil, Ranjan and Adar Poonawalla might be in the offing.
According to Forbes, Nikhil and Ranjan’s net worth is $2.5 billion and $2.8 billion respectively. The prominent American business magazine had valued RCB at just over a billion dollars in 2022. According to another report by investment consultancy Houlihan Lokey, the IPL’s total enterprise value is $18.5 billion and its brand value is $3.9 billion, as of 2025. RCB is seen as the leader with a whopping $269 million brand valuation.
The men’s team won their first title in 2025, the 18th installment of the Indian Prime Minister. Rajat Patidar had taken over as the team’s full-time skipper ahead of the season. The women’s side was successful in tasting success in the Women’s Premier League in 2024 itself, which was under Smriti Mandhana. They recently announced their retentions ahead of the mega auction for WPL 2026.
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