Warne’s masterstroke set to earn family INR450 crore windfall

Bangla Press Desk:  Late Australian spin legend Shane Warne was set to receive a massive financial reward of INR450 crore after the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, NDTV media reports on Wednesday.

That clause was triggered recently after Rajasthan Royals were sold to a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani for a staggering USD1.63 billion (around INR15,000 crore) on Tuesday, making it one of the most expensive franchise sales in IPL history.When the former cricketer took charge as captain of Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, he reportedly negotiated a unique deal that included an ownership stake in the franchise.

Under the original agreement, Warne was handed complete control over cricketing operations and granted a 0.75% ownership stake for every season he played.

“Part of my deal… they asked me to be the captain, coach, and run a cricket team the way I wanted… I was the one-stop shop,” Warne once told The Herald Sun.

The leg-spinner represented the Royals for four seasons and famously guided them to the IPL title in the maiden edition. That took his total stake to 3%.

With the franchise now valued at USD 1.63 billion, Warne’s share is estimated to be worth between INR450 to INR460 crore. His family will be eligible to cash in on the stake after the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season, subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Back in 2008, Rajasthan Royals were bought for just USD67 million by Emerging Media, headed by Manoj Badale, a reminder of how far both the franchise and the league have come since Warne’s visionary gamble nearly two decades ago.