In a thrilling turn of events in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Punjab Kings have secured a spot in the IPL final after 11 years. It is among the most noteworthy events in the franchise’s history. Since their founding in 2008, the Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab) have experienced a difficult IPL career. Frequently called underachievers, the group has experienced leadership and performance instability. In 2014, they made their lone IPL final appearance, losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders by a slim margin. Since then, the squad has rarely made it to the playoffs and frequently finishes in the bottom half of the standings.
However, compared to previous seasons, the 2025 IPL season has been a welcome change. The Punjab Kings have become one of the most dominant and entertaining teams in the tournament thanks to their well-balanced squad and outstanding leadership.
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While a team is going to face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2025 final, not many people know that Preity Zinta is not its only owner. Contrary to popular belief, the Punjab Kings have a total of 4 owners.
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Punjab Kings ownership explained
Founded in 2008, the Punjab Kings are among the first teams to compete in the IPL. Their on-field exploits and celebrity ownership have made them one of the most talked-about teams over the years. The company that owns PBKS is KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited. Interestingly, the company is owned by 4 renowned names: Karan Paul, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, and Mohit Burman.
1. Mohit Burman (46% stake)
Mohit Burman, without any doubt, is one of the major pillars of support behind PBKS. Being the largest shareholder, he holds 46% of the shares of the IPL franchise. A dynastic businessman is the current chairman of the Dabur company and has an ownership stake in several renowned brands.
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In addition to Punjab Kings, he co-owns and serves as a director of Saint Lucia Kings, a side in the Caribbean Premier League. The Burman family had a net worth of $10.4 billion in October 2024, placing them 23rd on Forbes’ list of the 100 richest tycoons in India.
2. Preity Zinta (23% stake)
One of the well-known individuals who has been spotted supporting PBKS is Preity Zinta. She is constantly present at games, enthusiastically applauding the team and actively participating in the auctions. A popular Bollywood actress owns PZNZ Media, which has 23% of the ownership of the team.
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Apart from this, she is also a co-owner of the Stellenbosch Kings franchise team in the Mzansi Super League of South Africa. The Times of India claims that Preity Zinta’s current net worth is Rs. 183 crore in total.
3. Ness Wadia (23% stake)
Another well-known person who owns stock in PBKS is Ness Nusli Wadia. Wadia has a 23% share in the IPL team and is currently the managing director of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. In addition, he is a non-executive director on the boards of several Wadia Group companies, such as Britannia Industries Ltd., Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Company Ltd., and Go Airlines (India) Ltd.
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He is also the chairman of National Peroxide Ltd., where he is responsible for the company’s operations and strategic direction. His net worth is estimated to be approximately Rs. 59,500 crore.
4. Karan Paul (8% stake)
The last name in this list is Karan Paul, another renowned Indian businessman known for being the chairman of the Apeejay Surrendra Group. He has an 8% stake in the IPL franchise, Punjab Kings. Paul has served on the executive committees of several chambers of commerce, including the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, the FICCI, the ICC, and the CII.
Although Karan has not revealed his current net worth to the public, records show that he is just as wealthy as other owners. According to reports, his company’s net value exceeded Rs. 6,000 crore in 2013.
Controversies surrounding the Punjab Kings’ Ownership
Despite playing in the league for 17 years, the Punjab Kings made news frequently due to the off-field scandal surrounding their well-known ownership. Due to violations of up to three franchise agreement provisions, the BCCI once canceled the franchise contracts of the Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals prior to the 2011 IPL season auction. Both franchises, however, filed lawsuits, and the court decided in favor of the franchise.
Another notorious controversy involves Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, who are co-owners. Initially, they were dating. However, the romance ended in 2009, and Preity Zinta accused Wadia of molestation in 2014. She posted information on social media about the incident, which occurred during the 2014 CSK vs. PBKS Qualifier 2 match at Wankhede Stadium.
Another dispute arose when Preity Zinta and Mohit Burman clashed over the sale of shares. Zinta allegedly objected to Burman’s plan to sell a portion of his interests to a third party. Although neither side has released a comment, there are rumors that Burman does not intend to temporarily sell his shares after this controversy.
What do you think about their ownership in the PBKS? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.
