RCB sold for USD 1.78 billion to consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Times of India

Both men's and women's teams will now be "owned and operated" by the consortium

Nagraj Gollapudi

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 5:49 PM (1 hr ago)

A consortium comprising Indian and overseas business entities has successfully bought full ownership of Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise for an eye-watering sum of about USD 1.78 billion (INR 16,660 crore approx.). The "all-cash" deal was announced by the United Spirits Limited (USL), the existing owner of the RCB teams in the IPL and WPL.

As per a media release issued by USL, its board has approved the sale of the franchise to a consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy, BXPE. After this deal, USL said, both RCB teams, which were being run by its subsidiary Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, will now be "owned and operated" by the consortium.

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.

Last November, global alcohol and beverage giant Diageo, which owns USL in India, said in its filings to India's market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) that it was conducting a "strategic review" of its investment in RCB. Diageo said cricket was a non-core area for the company and it was aiming to close the sale by March 31 this year.

The next step will involve the deal being ratified by the BCCI as well as the Competition Commission of India before the consortium formally takes charge of the franchise.

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.

In a media statement, the acquiring consortium said that Aryaman Birla, who played as a batter for Madhya Pradesh and was also part of Rajasthan Royals squad in IPL, would be its chairman, while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group would be the vice-chairman. The consortium said it was "proud to become custodians" of RCB.

"RCB's championship-winning culture, its deep connection to Bengaluru, and one of the most passionate fanbases in world sport make this an extraordinary opportunity," the consortium said. "We are committed to taking RCB to new heights, on the pitch and beyond."

Praveen Someshwar, managing director and CEO at USL, said RCB "has grown into the most prominent and commercially successful franchise" in the IPL and the WPL. "Guided by its 'Play Bold' philosophy and a strong competitive spirit, it has built a globally recognised brand and a passionate fan base," he said. "We are excited for the future of RCB under the stewardship of the new owner. As Sports enters a new phase of growth in India & globally, we believe this is in the best interest of the franchise and our stakeholders."

The consortium itself is an alliance of a diverse set of investors who are well-established in their fields. Aditya Birla Group is a renowned global conglomerate with diverse interests from metals to cement to fashion to retail. Bolt Ventures is owned by prominent sports investor David Blitzer, who has ownership stakes in Crystal Palace (Premier League), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Washington Commanders (NFL), Cleveland Guardians (MLB) and Real Salt Lake (MLS) in his vast portfolio.

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager, dealing in real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. The Times of India Group is a media giant in India and also has ownership stakes in both MLC and London Spirit teams in the Hundred.

Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo

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