American billionaire David Blitzer has joined the race to buy a majority stake in teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL). His entry has created strong competition, with bids also coming from Avram Glazer and several leading Indian business leaders. Blitzer, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, is currently reviewing the financial details of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. Reports say the Bengaluru franchise, which recently won the title, is valued at around $1.8 billion. Blitzer is well known in the United States for owning stakes in major sports teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Cleveland Guardians, and a minority share in the Washington Commanders. He is now looking to expand into cricket’s fast-growing Twenty20 format. The IPL is currently valued at about $18.5 billion, attracting global investors including KKR and Blackstone. Meanwhile, Indian business leaders like Adar Poonawalla and Ranjan Pai are also competing for ownership. The current owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Diageo, has described the team as a non-core asset, making a sale possible. However, any final deal must be approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
