Aditya Birla-led consortium acquires Royal Challengers Bengaluru for $1.78B IPL takeover

A consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group (ABG), The Times of India Group (ToI), Bolt Ventures (Bolt), and Blackstone's private equity arm (BXPE, Blackstone) has officially acquired the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The deal, confirmed by Cricbuzz, values the IPL franchise at USD 1.78 billion (approx. INR 16,706 crore).

 

The acquisition covers both the men's and women's teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women's Premier League (WPL). A definitive agreement was signed with United Spirits Limited (USL), a UK-Diageo plc subsidiary, granting the consortium a 100 percent stake in RCB.

 

New Leadership and Ownership Structure

 

Under the revised ownership, Aryaman Vikram Birla from ABG will assume the role of Chairman, while Satyan Gajwani of ToI becomes Vice Chairman. The consortium also includes David Blitzer, founder of Bolt Ventures, and Viral Patel, CEO of BXPE.

 

The takeover is pending standard closing conditions, including approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Competition Commission of India, alongside other regulatory authorities. In a statement, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of ABG, said,

 

“Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse… RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy.”

 

Satyan Gajwani added,

 

“RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL… we will build RCB into a global sporting institution while remaining rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and its incredible fanbase.”

 

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Consortium’s Vision for RCB

 

David Blitzer emphasized,

 

“RCB has a world-class fanbase, and the IPL is one of the great growth stories in global sport… the opportunity at RCB stands out.”

 

Viral Patel said,

 

“We are excited to invest in RCB… Together with our partners, we look forward to supporting the franchise's enduring legacy and continued success.”

 

New Chairman Aryaman Birla stated,

 

“It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB… Together, we will continue to Play Bold—on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is.”