One of the most popular franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is entering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as defending champions. Ahead of the season, they have achieved the milestone of becoming the most expensive IPL team, after a ₹16,660 crore deal by a consortium of Indian and global investors.
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The RCB sale update was announced by United Spirits Limited (USL), the existing owner of the franchise in the WPL and IPL. Earlier, Diageo, which owns USL in India, had intended to close the sale by March 31 this year, while deeming it as their non-core area. Let’s take a detailed look at the RCB new owner and the figures involved in the all-cash deal.
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Who Are the New Owners of Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
The consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone has become the RCB new owner. The Aditya Birla Group is a global conglomerate, with businesses operating in the fields of metals, cement, telecom, fashion and retail. They bring the backing of big capital and decades of experience in handling complex businesses.
A bold new chapter begins.
Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have joined forces as a consortium to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a historic deal. pic.twitter.com/Fn75ZjwJB0
— Aditya Birla Group (@AdityaBirlaGrp) March 24, 2026
Meanwhile, the Times of India Group is a giant in the Indian media circuit, and has experience in ownership stakes in the franchise leagues such as the Major League Cricket and The Hundred. The online presence and popularity of the RCB will be further boosted with TOI.
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Bolt Ventures, led by David Blitzer is a global sports investment firm, and has stakes in prominent leagues like the Premier League, NBA, NFL and MLB. Blackstone is the world’s biggest alternative asset manager, with investments in sectors like real estate, equity and infrastructure. With huge institutional capital, they will bring long-term investment to the franchise.
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Aryaman Birla, director at Aditya Birla Group will serve as RCB’s chairman, while Times of India’s Satyan Gajwani is elected as the vice-chairman. Interestingly, Birla represented Madhya Pradesh in the domestic circuit and was also a part of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. According to the media statement from the consortium after the RCB sale update, they are committed to take the franchise to new heights. They also highlighted the passion of the RCB fans and were proud to secure the ownership.
RCB Become the Most Expensive Franchise in IPL
Ahead of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, RCB was the second-most expensive team among eight original franchises. The Vijay Mallya-owned United Breweries Group purchased RCB for ₹455 crore. Then, RCB owners shelled out ₹901 crore to buy a Bengaluru franchise in WPL, which was the third-highest at the time.
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In 2024, the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB lifted the WPL trophy for the first time. Meanwhile, the men followed it up by ending the 18-year drought to win their maiden IPL title in the 2025 season, under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.
📢 RCB SELLING DETAILS. ❗️
▶️ Consortium consists of:
1️⃣ Aditya Birla Group.
2️⃣ Satyan Gajwani- TOI Group.
3️⃣ Blackstone – World’s biggest private equity firm.
4️⃣ American sports investor David Blitzer.⚠️ RCB SOLD AT 16,705cr REPORTEDLY…!!! pic.twitter.com/PxHIOdnWIm
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 24, 2026
With impressive form in recent years and players like Virat Kohli and Mandhana being the key faces of the franchise, RCB managed to break records and become the most expensive IPL team. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are second on the list after the US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani-led consortium bought the franchise for ₹16,290 crore.
Impact of Ownership Change on RCB’s Future
After the RCB sale update, there are significant changes which can take place in areas like management, coaching staff, player retention, strategic decisions, and how they get involved with the fans to maintain their brand value. A fresh philosophy or mindset is likely to emerge after RCB achieved the feat of becoming the most expensive IPL team. The franchise can reconsider signing different coaches, depending upon the side’s performance in the 2026 season.
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The RCB new owner could have a completely different take on auction strategy, and which player to retain or release in the coming editions. RCB’s core identity has revolved around Virat Kohli since the last decade, but the star batter is in the twilight of his career. Hence, the franchise will have to find a perfect replacement for him to maintain their brand value as they usher in a new era.
Reigning IPL and WPL champions RCB will be acquired by a consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone pic.twitter.com/zAKAzn5Gdx
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 24, 2026
An investment in long-term Indian talent and optimizing the team balance might be a crucial step in safeguarding their prospects of consistent performances on the field. In partnership with TOI, the consortium can enhance the franchise’s digital engagement & global branding. They can also work on improving the match day experience of the fans and keep them hooked throughout the season. Another big step for the franchise would be to expand itself and make an entry into other leagues like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
