RCB Sold to Aditya Birla, Times of India-Led Consortium for $1.78 Billion

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been sold to a consortium led by Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone for a whopping $1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,706 crore). This deal marks a significant milestone in the IPL, with RCB becoming one of the most valuable franchises in the league. The consortium plans to build RCB into a global sporting institution while retaining its roots in Bengaluru and Karnataka. New Ownership Structure: Aryaman Vikram Birla will serve as Chairman, and Satyan Gajwani of Times of India Group will be Vice-Chairman. RCB's Achievements: The franchise recently won its first IPL title in 2025 and has a strong fan base. Global Appeal: The IPL has transformed into a global sporting powerhouse, creating enormous value for India. That it is a phenomenal sum of money can be understood from the fact that it exceeds the combined value of the Lucknow and Ahmedabad IPL franchises - INR 12,715 crore (about $1.69 billion) - that the BCCI sold for in 2021. Incidentally, the consortium was not yet formed in February when at least eight investors had made the shortlist for RCB, whose men's and women's teams are the current champions in the IPL and the WPL. Diageo, the global alcohol and beverage giant, had announced a "strategic review" of its investment in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) back in November, citing cricket as a non-core area for the company. The sale process has now concluded, with a consortium led by Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone acquiring RCB for a whopping $1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,706 crore). The deal is subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Competition Commission of India. Among the eight original franchises when IPL started in 2008, the Bengaluru team was the second-most expensive at the time, bought for USD 111. 6 million by Vijay Mallya-owned United Breweries Group. In 2023, RCB owners bid 901 crore (USD 110 million approx.) to buy the Bengaluru franchise in the WPL, making it the third-most expensive among the five women's teams.