By Zainab Shafiq 
New York-based investment firm, Tiger Global, is poised to acquire a financial stake in the highly esteemed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Rajasthan Royals (RR). Reports suggest that Tiger Global aims to infuse $40 million into the franchise, valuing it at an impressive $650 million.
Renowned for backing successful businesses like Flipkart, Zomato, Ola, and Delhivery, Tiger Global has a proven track record in the investment world. The firm also holds a stake in Dream Sports, the largest online fantasy sports provider known for its platform, Dream11.
According to sources cited in the Economic Times, Tiger Global initially engaged in discussions with several franchises within the lucrative T20 league. However, it appears that the deal with Rajasthan Royals is most likely to materialize, with a proposed $40 million investment expected to raise the franchise’s overall valuation to $650 million.
Currently, Rajasthan Royals is owned by UK-based entrepreneur Manoj Badale through the parent entity, Emerging Media. Badale has held over 60% stake in the franchise since 2008. In 2021, US-based firm RedBird Capital acquired shares in a secondary deal, valuing the Royals at more than $250 million. As per the Economic Times report, Tiger Global’s investment in the Royals could be either direct or indirect, potentially supporting one of the existing shareholders through capital infusion.
During the recently concluded IPL season, Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, concluded their campaign in fifth place on the IPL Points Table, accumulating 14 points in 14 matches. The team secured victory in seven matches and faced defeat in an equal number, with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.148.
Meanwhile, the IPL Playoffs will witness the defending champions, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians battling for the ultimate title. The defending champions will clash with MS Dhoni’s Super Kings in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, May 23, while the five-time winners will face Krunal Pandya’s LSG in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 24.