The Competition Commission of India has cleared the takeover of three cricket franchises across different countries by two companies: Westview Cricket Limited and Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited. The three franchises are Rajasthan Royals in India, Paarl Royals in South Africa, and Barbados Royals in the West Indies. This approval was announced on 17 September 2026.
What is being acquired and by whom
Westview Cricket Limited is a UK-registered company. Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited is an Indian firm that is entirely owned by Adar Cyrus Poonawalla.
The three franchises are currently held under EM Sporting Holdings Limited, a Mauritius-based holding company. Royal Multisport Private Limited, which operates under this holding company, owns and runs Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan Royals competes in the Indian Premier League, the T20 cricket tournament organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Paarl Royals and Barbados Royals are the other two cricket franchises included in the acquisition.
What this means for you
For fans and stakeholders of Indian cricket, this clearance means the ownership structure of Rajasthan Royals, one of the IPL teams, will now change hands. The approval signals that competition regulators have found no barriers to this cross-border ownership arrangement. The detailed terms and conditions of the Competition Commission’s decision will be released separately in its full order. This move reflects growing interest from business groups in owning cricket franchises not just in India but across multiple countries.