How Much is RCB’s Nandini Deal Worth? IPL 2026 Sponsorship Explained

The defending champions of the Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is one of the most popular franchises of the tournament. Despite not having a single trophy in their cabinet, their names always came among the top-tier teams of the biggest cricket league in the world. Their fanbase, which is known as the “12th Man Army,” is massive across the globe.

For brands, partnering with Royal Challengers Bengaluru goes far beyond just a sponsorship deal; it’s a gateway to the IPL team with the most fans. With the unmatched popularity of their former skipper, Virat Kohli, RCB offers engagement to their sponsors that only a few sports franchises can match. This mix of on-field performance and off-field popularity makes partnerships like Nandini’s with RCB a valuable opportunity for brands to quickly expand their reach.

How Much RCB Nandini Deal Worth?

For the 2026 IPL season, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which owns the Nandini brand, has officially signed with Royal Challengers Bengaluru as their dairy sponsor for the 19th edition of the league. The Nandini RCB partner ship deal has taken over the slot which was previously held by Amul. The deal is reportedly worth ₹4.80 crore for the 2026 season and is a one-year agreement starting March 28, 2026, when RCB plays its first match of the year.

After the report came out, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Chief Operating Officer Rajesh Menon said:

Under this partnership, Nandini by KMF has secured promotional rights to use Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and other RCB players in its advertising campaigns and on product packaging. However, the Nandini logo will not appear on players’ jerseys. Instead, the brand will focus on digital marketing, social media promotions, large billboards, and television commercials.

This is a strategic move by KMF, aiming to expand beyond being seen as a “Karnataka-only brand” and establish a stronger national presence, competing with brands like Amul in major markets such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh.

How Nandini Plans to Use RCB’s Global Reach?

The Nandini RCB partner ship is a perfect blend of local pride and global fame. Nandini has been a household name in Karnataka for decades. Under the leadership of Karnataka Milk Federation Managing Director B. Shivswamy, the brand had been pursuing this sponsorship deal since 2024, and it finally came through in 2026, at a time when RCB’s value is at an all-time high.

The franchise was recently valued at around $1.8 billion (over ₹16,000 crore), following major ownership involvement from groups such as Aditya Birla and the Times of India. The richest IPL team also has the highest social media engagement among all IPL teams. RCB Dairy Sponsors 2026, Nandini aims to leverage this reach to promote its high-protein products, such as Greek yogurt and protein shakes, targeting younger, fitness-conscious consumers.