New Delhi, March 26: The Indian Premier League (IPL) champion team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has been acquired by a consortium led by Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone for $1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,725 crores). Following this deal, RCB’s founder and former owner Vijay Mallya extended his congratulations to the new owners.
Mallya expressed his sentiments on social media platform X, stating, “I want to sincerely congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them all the best and hope for success for this precious IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for ₹450 crores, many laughed at me and criticized my investment as a foolish project.”
He continued, “My ambition was to build the Royal Challenge brand, which is why I named the franchise RCB. It brings me immense joy to see my ₹450 crores investment grow to ₹16,500 crores. RCB will always be a part of my DNA, including selecting young Virat Kohli, who is now one of the best players in the world. A heartfelt thank you to the RCB fans who supported the team during my time and beyond. Please continue to support RCB, the lions of Bangalore. Namaste.”
According to Cricbuzz, the consortium has reached a definitive agreement with Diageo PLC’s subsidiary United Spirits Limited (USL). Under this agreement, the consortium will acquire 100% ownership of Royal Challengers Bangalore. This deal includes both men’s and women’s teams in the IPL and WPL.
Under the new ownership structure, Aryaman Vikram Birla from Aditya Birla Group will serve as chairman, while Satyan Gazvani from Times of India Group will take on the role of vice-chairman. Reports indicate that David Blitzer, founder of Bolt Ventures, and Viral Patel, CEO of BXP, are also part of this consortium. The RCB franchise was initially purchased through a bidding process by the then liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who appointed young batsman Virat Kohli as the team’s ‘icon player.’ When Diageo PLC took control of United Spirits from Mallya, the RCB franchise came under their ownership as well.
Royal Challengers Bangalore is the first and only franchise to hold both the IPL and WPL titles simultaneously. The RCB men’s team won its first IPL title in 2025, followed by the women’s team securing their second WPL title in February 2026, marking this unique achievement.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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