Kumar Bahukhandi
Defending Champions RCB Change Owners Just 4 Days Before the IPL (Photo: ITG)
The ownership of RCB has now passed to a consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, the Times Group, Blackstone, and Bolt Ventures. In this deal, valued at approximately ₹16,700 crore, a 100% stake in the team has been acquired. Under the new ownership structure, Aryaman Birla will serve as the Chairman.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—one of the most high-profile teams in the IPL and the current defending champions—has now changed hands, moving into the ownership of a new consortium. The Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have jointly acquired the team for approximately $1.78 billion (roughly ₹16,706 crore). This deal was concluded on Tuesday.
Notably, prior to this RCB transaction, the Rajasthan Royals were also acquired by American businessman Kal Somani for a sum of approximately ₹15,000 crore. This means that within a single day, the ownership of two IPL teams has changed hands.
The RCB deal was executed with United Spirits Limited (a subsidiary of Diageo), under which a 100% stake in RCB will be transferred. This transaction encompasses not only the IPL team but also the WPL (women’s team). Consequently, the ownership rights for both RCB’s men’s and women’s teams have now been vested in these four stakeholders.
Who Will Lead the Team?
Under the new ownership structure:
- Aryaman Vikram Birla (Aditya Birla Group) will serve as the Chairman.
- Satyan Gajwani (Times Group) will serve as the Vice Chairman.
Additionally, the consortium includes David Blitzer (Bolt Ventures) and Viral Patel (Blackstone).
Certain Approvals Still Pending
The completion of this deal is currently contingent upon certain conditions. It is still awaiting approval from the BCCI, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and other relevant regulatory authorities.
Commenting on the deal, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, stated that the IPL has transformed the landscape of cricket over the past 20 years, and associating with a team like RCB is a matter of great significance for the group. He added that they intend to further build upon and enhance the team’s legacy.
Meanwhile, Satyan Gajwani of the Times Group remarked that RCB is not merely a team, but one of the most popular brands within the IPL ecosystem. He stated that their objective is to elevate it into a global sports brand. David Blitzer of Bolt Ventures stated that RCB possesses a magnificent fan base and that the IPL is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world. Meanwhile, Viral Patel of Blackstone remarked that RCB is a robust brand with numerous opportunities for future growth.
The new Chairman, Aryaman Birla, expressed that this is a matter of great pride for him and pledged to work towards taking the team to the next level. He added that the team would continue to uphold its “Play Bold” approach—not only on the field but also in its engagement with fans and the community.
RCB: The Defending Champions
It is worth mentioning that the RCB squad are the defending champions. They clinched the title last season by defeating the Punjab Kings. This marked the first instance in the franchise’s history that RCB claimed the championship trophy. Virat Kohli is a key member of the RCB squad, a factor that has elevated the team’s fan following to an altogether different level. There exists a unique fervor for RCB among IPL enthusiasts; indeed, the team’s supporters are widely regarded as the most loyal fans in the league. Following their championship victory, the team’s popularity has surged even further.
