Aditya Birla Group, TOI Group, Bolt Ventures & Blackstone acquire RCB for $1.78 billion
A consortium including Aditya Birla Group, Times of India, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone has acquired Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for $1. 78 billion. This landmark deal encompasses both the men's and women's IPL and WPL franchises from United Spirits.
Aryaman Vikram Birla will chair the team, with Satyan Gajwani as vice-chairman, following the 2026 IPL season.
Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise that will include both the men and women’s teams. The Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises are being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc. The transaction has valued the franchise at US$1.
78b (approx. INR 16,600 crore). The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval from BCCI, the IPL governing council and other authorities.
The franchise, under its new ownership structure post the 2026 edition, will see Aryaman Vikram Birla, director at Aditya Birla Group serve as chairman while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group will be the vice-chairman. “Over the past 2 decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport.