📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Financial Times
Business
Laxmi Mittal’s Rajasthan Royals Deal Triggers Shareholder Row in UK
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 24 Jul 2026, 06:49 PM
👁 1
Laxmi Mittal’s acquisition of a stake in Rajasthan Royals has ignited a dispute among shareholders in the UK, raising questions over ownership and control of the cricket franchise.
Laxmi Mittal, the Indian steel magnate, recently announced a stake purchase in the Rajasthan Royals, a franchise of the Indian Premier League. The transaction, reported to be valued in the hundreds of millions of rupees, was completed through a UK‑based holding company.
The deal has sparked a feud among existing shareholders in the United Kingdom, who claim that the terms of Mittal’s entry were not fully disclosed and that the new ownership structure could alter the club’s governance. Several shareholders have expressed concerns over regulatory compliance and potential conflicts of interest, prompting calls for a review of the franchise’s ownership documents.
If the dispute is not resolved, it could delay the Royals’ participation in upcoming seasons and affect the franchise’s commercial partnerships. The Indian Premier League’s governing body has urged both parties to settle the matter swiftly to avoid any disruption to the league’s schedule.
Mittal’s representatives have stated that the investment aligns with the Royals’ long‑term growth strategy and that all legal and regulatory requirements have been met. However, the UK shareholders remain skeptical, demanding greater transparency before approving the final ownership structure.
The deal has sparked a feud among existing shareholders in the United Kingdom, who claim that the terms of Mittal’s entry were not fully disclosed and that the new ownership structure could alter the club’s governance. Several shareholders have expressed concerns over regulatory compliance and potential conflicts of interest, prompting calls for a review of the franchise’s ownership documents.
If the dispute is not resolved, it could delay the Royals’ participation in upcoming seasons and affect the franchise’s commercial partnerships. The Indian Premier League’s governing body has urged both parties to settle the matter swiftly to avoid any disruption to the league’s schedule.
Mittal’s representatives have stated that the investment aligns with the Royals’ long‑term growth strategy and that all legal and regulatory requirements have been met. However, the UK shareholders remain skeptical, demanding greater transparency before approving the final ownership structure.