IPL 2026 Report: RR Sold for Rs. 15,000 Crore to USA-Based Entrepreneur

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) briefly became the IPL’s most-valued franchise after a consortium sealed a Rs. 15,000 crore takeover in early March 2026. Reports suggest that a US-based Indian entrepreneur Kal Somani emerged as the winning bidder for the franchise after an intention of sale became public.

Did the Consortium Acquire All of RR in The Big-Money Purchase?

The consortium secured 100% stake of RR during this transaction. A sum of Rs. 15,300 crore (about US$1.6 billion) beat other offers to this franchise ahead of IPL 2026.

Who is Kal Somani?

Kal Somani is an entrepreneur and investor based in the US. He is the founder of business interests like Truyo.AI, IntraEdge,  and Academian. Some sources claim Komani receives needed backing for investments from top American businesses and entrepreneurs across sectors.

Where Did Kal Somani Get Backing for Such a Deal?

Several reports claim Somani receives financial backing from Rob Walton,  a prominent member of the Walmart family. Other sources also touts Komani’s reported strong ties with the Hamp and Ford families.

Which Franchise is the Most-Valued in IPL History?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have the highest valuation among IPL franchises as of March 2026. Previous  owners of the Bengaluru franchise sealed a Rs. 16,000 crore deal for the entity to slightly edge RR in terms of team valuation.

RR Made Heavy Investment in Core Local Talent Ahead of Big-Money Takeover

The RR franchise made significant investment in top Indian talent ahead of IPL 2026.  Over ₹21.2 crore  to secure two top players  (₹14 crore Ravindra Jadeja  and ₹7.2 crore for Ravi Bishnoi).

RR decided to mix experience and youth in their lineup as they seek another piece of silverware in this IPL campaign.  The franchise also went for strengthened pace bowling and finishing talent overseas with trades for cricketers like Dasun Shanaka and Adam Milne.

RR Announces Shanaka as Curran Replacement, Coach Confirms

The RR officially announced Sam Curran’s unavailability due to injury amid a busy schedule of group games this season. Official IPL reports also say Dasun Shanaka will replace the cricketer while he recovers after RR completed his big-money move before IPL 2026

“Rajasthan Royals (RR) have picked a player replacement for injured Sam Curran for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Dasun Shanaka will join RR for INR 2 Crore as a replacement for Curran. Dasun Shanaka has represented Sri Lanka in 6 Tests, 71 ODIs and 131 T20Is and has over 3350 international runs and 86 wickets in international cricket against his name. The Sri Lankan all-rounder has previously played for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL,” an IPL statement read regarding the development. 

Shanaka is a quality player, RR coach says as he confirms Curran replacement

RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara praised Shanaka’s skillset after his move to replace the injured  Curran at  IPL 2026. The team’s coach expressed disappointment at losing a valuable player like Curran, but he believes the franchise will achieve similar objectives after securing Shanaka’s services:

“We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season. Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side,” the coach said. 

Full Rajasthan Royals (RR) IPL 2026

Batters: Shubham Dubey (₹80 lakh), Shimron Hetmyer (₹11 crore, Overseas), Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18 crore), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (₹1.1 crore), Yash Punja (₹0.35 crore)

Wicket-Keepers: Dhruv Jurel (₹14 crore), Ravi Inder Singh (₹95 lakh), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (₹30 lakh, Overseas)

All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja (₹14 crore, Vice-Captain), Yudhvir Singh (₹35 lakh), Dasun Shanaka (₹2 crore, Overseas), Riyan Parag (₹14 crore, Captain), Donovan Ferreira (₹1 crore, Overseas)

Pace Bowlers: Adam Milne (₹2.4 crore, Overseas), Sandeep Sharma (₹4 crore), Jofra Archer (₹12.5 crore, Overseas), Tushar Deshpande (₹6.5 crore), Nandre Burger (₹3.5 crore, Overseas), Kuldeep Sen (₹75 lakh), Sushant Mishra (₹90 lakh), Kwena Maphaka (₹1.5 crore, Overseas)

Spin Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.2 crore), Vignesh Puthur (₹30 lakh)

RR – Players Signed Ahead of IPL 2026