Rajasthan Royals has been sold for more than Rs 15,000 crore, making it the most expensive IPL team ever. A group led by US entrepreneur Kal Somani bought 100% of the team for $1.63 billion (around Rs 15,286 crore). Somani runs companies like IntraEdge, Academian, and Truyo.AI. He is supported by Rob Walton from the Walmart family and the Hamp family, who partly own the NFL team Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp also has links to the Ford Motor Company family. The new ownership will start after IPL 2026.
For IPL 2026, RR had to replace Sam Curran, who got injured. They picked Sri Lankan all-rounder and T20I captain Dasun Shanaka as his replacement. Shanaka has played 6 Tests, 71 ODIs, and 131 T20Is, scoring over 3,350 runs and taking 86 wickets internationally. He will join RR for ₹2 crore. Shanaka has played in IPL before for Gujarat Titans. Kumar Sangakkara, RR’s head coach, said Shanaka is a strong all-rounder and can keep the team balanced.
Kal Somani: The US Tech Entrepreneur Who Bought Rajasthan Royals for a Record $1.63 Billion
Kal Somani is a US-based tech entrepreneur who bought the Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion (around ₹15,300 crore). The full ownership deal will start after IPL 2026. Somani grew up in a small town in India, and lost his father at 16. He studied electronics and software engineering, and moved to the US in 1998. He worked for big companies like Motorola, Pearson, and Cisco before starting his own company, IntraEdge, in 2004. He later became a US citizen in 2009.
Somani also runs Truyo.AI (for data privacy), Academian (ed-tech), and has offices in cities like San Francisco, Dallas, and New York. He first invested in Rajasthan Royals in 2021. He’s involved in sports beyond cricket, including co-owning a golf club, investing in TGL Golf League, and being a part-time caddy for his son. He also flies a Cessna airplane.
The deal was backed by Rob Walton, heir of Walmart and owner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, and Sheila Ford Hamp’s family, who own the Detroit Lions and have stakes in Ford Motor Company. The Rajasthan Royals, 2008 IPL champions, are currently led by captain Riyan Parag and coach/director Kumar Sangakkara.
Who were the Previous Owners Before Kal Somani?
The team was mainly owned by Manoj Badale through his company Emerging Media IPL Ltd. He had a 65% stake, making him the main owner since the team started in 2008. Other minority owners included RedBird Capital Partners (15%), Lachlan Murdoch (~13%), and Shane Warne’s family (~3%). Warne got a small stake as a thank-you for the seasons he played.
The team has seen a lot of changes since 2008. Early owners included Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and businessman Raj Kundra. The team was suspended in 2015 for two years after the 2013 spot-fixing scandal. Some players were arrested and Raj Kundra banned for life. The franchise returned in 2018 with a restructured ownership.
Under Badale, Rajasthan Royals grew into a successful team, winning the 2008 IPL. They later expanding internationally with teams like Barbados Royals in CPL and Paarl Royals in SA20. Warne’s family still holds the 3% stake he earned.
FAQs
Q. How much was Rajasthan Royals sold for?
A. Rajasthan Royals was sold for $1.63 billion, making it the most expensive IPL team.
Q. Who bought Rajasthan Royals?
A. US entrepreneur Kal Somani led the group that bought the team, with support from Rob Walton and Sheila Ford Hamp’s family.
Q. When will the new ownership start?
A. The new ownership will begin after IPL 2026.
Q. Who replaced Sam Curran in RR for IPL 2026?
A. Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka was picked as a replacement for Sam Curran.
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