Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been sold for a record $1.78 billion, making it the biggest deal in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
According to reports, a consortium led by Aditya Birla Group has secured the franchise, along with partners including The Times Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone.
Bidding for RCB attracted strong interest from multiple groups. A consortium led by Ranjan Pai, backed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Temasek, stayed in contention. Another bid came from a partnership between EQT and Premji Invest.
The winning group strengthened its position after initially exploring a deal for Rajasthan before shifting focus to Bengaluru.
Aryaman Vikram Birla will take charge as chairman, while Satyan Gajwani will serve as vice chairman. The ownership group also includes David Blitzer and Viral Patel.
RCB has come a long way since its early days. Vijay Mallya bought the franchise in 2008 through United Breweries Group for $111.6 million. The latest valuation reflects a rise of around 1,360 percent from that original price. Mallya stepped down in 2016 after financial troubles, while ownership stayed with United Spirits, a part of Diageo.
The team enters this new phase on the back of major success. It won the Women’s Premier League title in 2024 and lifted its first IPL trophy in 2025. The squad features star players such as Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana, adding to its strong brand value.
In another major development, a group led by Kal Somani has reportedly secured Rajasthan Royals in a separate deal worth $1.63 billion, marking another big investment in the league.