On March 25, 2026, it was announced that the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise had been acquired by a consortium led by Arizona-based Indian-origin tech entrepreneur Kal Somani for USD 1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,290 crore). The deal marks a historic milestone as the first IPL franchise to surpass the billion-dollar valuation threshold, representing a 24-fold increase from the franchise's original USD 67 million purchase price in 2008.
The consortium includes Rob Walton (Walmart heir and Denver Broncos owner) and the Hamp family (Detroit Lions NFL franchise owners). Somani, founder of IntraEdge and Truyo.AI, had been a minority shareholder since 2021. The deal is pending final approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and will come into full effect after the 2026 IPL season.
Somani has outlined plans to modernize the franchise using AI-powered analytics for player recruitment and fan engagement. The sale reflects the extraordinary growth of IPL as a commercial property — the league's combined franchise value has grown from USD 2 billion in 2008 to an estimated USD 20+ billion in 2026. The Rajasthan Royals are based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and carry deep cultural significance for the state. The deal also demonstrates growing interest from US investors in Indian sports properties.