RCB ownership change: Aditya Birla–ToI-led consortium buys Royal Challengers Bengaluru for $1.78 billion in IPL mega deal

In a landmark move that underlines the growth of franchise cricket, a united bid by Aditya Birla Group and the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy has acquired Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a massive USD 1.78 billion. The deal stands among the most expensive franchise sales in T20 history, highlighting the Indian Premier League’s unmatched commercial appeal.

With RCB being one of the most followed teams, the four group acquisition signals both strong brand confidence and long-term strategic intent from two corporate heavyweights.

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A record-breaking deal reshapes RCB ownership

The takeover marks a significant shift in RCB’s ownership structure, bringing together the Aditya Birla Group’s diversified business expertise and the Times of India Group’s media dominance. The bidding process reportedly attracted multiple contenders, but the four-group consortium sealed the deal with United Spirits Limited and acquired a 100 per cent stake in RCB with a record valuation of INR 16, 706 crores. This reflects not only the franchise’s strong market positioning but also the IPL’s continued rise as a global sports business powerhouse.

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What this means for RCB’s future

As quoted by Cricbuzz, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said in a statement, "Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and are committed to further building this extraordinary legacy."

In the new ownership, Aryaman Vikram Birla, Director of the Aditya Birla Group, will serve as Chairman, with Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group as Vice Chairman. The consortium also includes David Blitzer, the founder of Bolt Ventures, and Viral Patel, CEO of BXPE.

The new ownership is now subject to customary closing conditions and is yet to get approval from BCCI for both men's and women's teams.