Sports
US tech entrepreneur Kal Somani buys Rajasthan Royals for $1.63bn
Kal Somani’s consortium, backed by Walmart and Ford money, completes a landmark takeover of one of the IPL’s most storied franchises
RAJASTHAN: The Rajasthan Royals have a new owner, and he comes with deep pockets, deeper connections, and a taste for sports that goes well beyond cricket.
A consortium led by Kal Somani, a US-based serial entrepreneur with an impressive footprint across the American tech ecosystem, has won the bidding war to acquire the Rajasthan Royals franchise outright, forking out $1.63bn (£1.2bn) for the privilege. The current owners had been shopping the franchise around for the better part of six months, seeking a full 100 per cent sale.
Somani does not arrive alone. Rob Walton, scion of the Walmart dynasty, is backing the deal, as is the Hamp family, which holds majority stakes in the NFL’s Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp brings further heft as part of the Ford family, which retains a significant stake in Ford Motor Company. This is old American money meeting new Indian cricket gold.
The buyer himself is no stranger to either boardrooms or playing fields. Somani is the founder and chief executive of IntraEdge, a technology services and solutions firm; Truyo and Truyo.AI, which specialise in data privacy rights automation and AI governance; and Academian, a major player in ed-tech and digital content. His pivot into sport began with a focus on sports technology but swiftly evolved into full-blown ownership. He is a co-owner of the Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in TMRW Sports and the TGL Golf League, the tech-driven venture launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Somani had first dipped his toes into the Royals’ pink waters in 2021. “We see huge potential with this investment, and we are excited for the future of the IPL,” he said then. That excitement has now translated into a $1.63bn cheque.
For a franchise that won the inaugural IPL title in 2008 and has spent years punching above its weight, this is a watershed moment. What began as a scrappy underdog story out of Jaipur is now a billion-dollar American asset, proof that the IPL has firmly arrived on the global sports investment map, and has no intention of leaving.
Sports
Bundesliga International strikes AIS deal as Sportel Singapore opens to deal-making frenzy
Three-year Thailand partnership expands reach while industry converges for two days of high-stakes networking
SINGAPORE: Sportel Singapore 2026 opened with a surge of energy, a packed ballroom setting the tone for two days of business and connection as the global sports media industry got down to work. From the opening moments, the exhibition floor was buzzing with back-to-back meetings, high-level networking and deal-making across every corner. Clients, partners and newcomers alike packed their schedules, turning the venue into a high-velocity marketplace from morning to evening. As day one wrapped, momentum was unmistakable, with expectations already building for an even bigger second day.
Amid that deal-heavy backdrop, Bundesliga International moved swiftly to lock in a key Asia-Pacific partnership, signing a three-year agreement with Thailand’s leading telecommunications provider AIS, starting from the 2026–27 season. The move underlines Thailand’s strategic importance for the Bundesliga’s international growth ambitions.
The agreement will see all nine Bundesliga matches per matchday streamed live on AIS PLAY, alongside marquee fixtures such as the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, which opens the season between the Bundesliga champions and DFB-Pokal winners.
AIS, Thailand’s largest intelligent infrastructure company, already offers premium sports content including the NBA, PGA Tour and ATP Tour. The Bundesliga now joins that line-up as it looks to deepen engagement in a market where fans routinely defy time zones to follow live football.
“The Bundesliga has long been a home for Asian talent, from Witthaya Laohakul to current Thailand international Nicholas Mickelson and FC Bayern München newcomer Maycon Cardozo. Through our partnership with AIS, we’re bringing the excitement of the Bundesliga even closer to Thai fans — making it easier than ever to follow every match, wherever they are and whenever they want to watch,” said Peer Naubert, chief executive officer, Bundesliga International.
“Eight million fans in Thailand follow the Bundesliga, and more than half stay up to watch the matches live despite the time difference. That passion is incredible. Together with AIS, we want to make sure Thai fans never miss a moment of Football As It’s Meant To Be,” Naubert added.
For AIS, the partnership is a strategic play to elevate the domestic sports ecosystem. “The Bundesliga is recognised as one of the top five leagues in Europe. We recognise the Bundesliga is defined by its unique DNA: fast-paced, aggressive attacking football paired with the intense passion of the fans. This aligns with our vision of elevating the national sports scene to foster tangible growth in Thai sports. Therefore, we are moving forward to join hands and work together strategically with Bundesliga International in a full-scale manner,” said Pratthana Leelapanang, chief executive officer, AIS.
The collaboration goes beyond streaming. Both sides will roll out joint marketing and promotional initiatives while strengthening grassroots development. The partnership builds on the Bundesliga’s 2023 memorandum of understanding with the Sports Authority of Thailand, aimed at creating pathways for young Thai players into German football.
At the centre of that effort is the Bundesliga Dream project, an Asia-wide initiative offering young players the chance to train at top German club academies. Bundesliga Dream Thailand, now heading into its fourth edition later this year, has emerged as one of the programme’s most consistent and successful chapters, already helping players move along the professional pathway.
The Bundesliga’s ties with Asia run deep, with more Asian players featuring in Germany’s top flight over the past two decades than in the other top five European leagues combined. It also remains the most active league on the ground in the region, working with partners and governments on initiatives such as Bundesliga Common Ground to grow the sport locally.
Back in Singapore, as conversations stretch late and deals move from pitch to paper, the message is clear: the sports business is not just gathering, it is accelerating. Those closing fastest today are shaping tomorrow’s scoreboard.
