Vijay Mallya Bought RCB for ₹446.40 Crore; Birla–Times Consortium Acquires Franchise in ₹16,706 Crore Deal

A consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone’s Perpetual Private Equity arm (BXPE) has acquired ownership of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL), in a deal valued at $1.78 billion (₹16,706 crore).

The agreement includes ownership of both the men’s and women’s RCB teams in the IPL and WPL. With this acquisition, RCB has become the most expensive franchise in IPL history.

In disclosures to regulators, United Spirits Limited (USL) confirmed the sale of its entire stake in Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited for around ₹16,660 crore. The purchase agreement was signed on March 24, 2026.

RCB was originally bought by Vijay Mallya for ₹446.40 crore, and he played a key role in shaping the team’s identity. The franchise has now been acquired from United Spirits by the Birla–Times-led consortium.

However, the deal is yet to receive approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Approval is expected during the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for September–October. Until then, the franchise will remain under the current ownership, meaning the 2026 season will proceed with the existing owners.

Leadership and Stakeholders

Aryaman Birla, son of Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, has been appointed as the new Chairman of RCB. Born on July 9, 1997, in Mumbai, Aryaman has a strong interest in cricket despite belonging to a prominent business family.

Times Internet, part of the Times Group owned by the Sahu Jain family, holds a significant stake in RCB. Satyan Gajwani, Vice Chairman of Times Internet, will serve as Vice Chairman of RCB. He stated that RCB will be developed into a global sports brand.

Bolt Ventures, the investment platform of global sports investor David Blitzer, is also part of the consortium. The firm has stakes in major global franchises including the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Crystal Palace FC.

Blackstone Inc., one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers with over $1 trillion in assets under management as of 2026, is also part of the consortium. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in New York, Blackstone specializes in private equity, real estate, credit, and infrastructure investments.

Source: Vartha Bharathi (Translated in english)