Vijay Mallya on RCB sale: ‘Will remain part of my DNA’, recalls Virat Kohli pick
Former RCB owner Vijay Mallya expressed his emotions following the franchise's record sale, stating it remains in his DNA. He recalled his initial INR 450 crore investment in 2008, which has now grown to an astounding INR 16,600 crore. Mallya highlighted his decision to pick a young Virat Kohli as a significant memory, thanking fans for their unwavering support.
NEW DELHI: Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner Vijay Mallya has broken his silence after the landmark sale of the IPL franchise, calling it an emotional moment and insisting that RCB “will always remain a part of my DNA. ” His post on X struck a nostalgic tone, revisiting the early days of the team and its remarkable rise in value. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! “I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise,” Mallya wrote, acknowledging the consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and Times of India Group.
Reflecting on his bold move back in 2008, he added, “When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. ” Mallya defended that decision, saying it was part of a larger vision. “Behind my much touted madnesses was building the Royal Challenge brand, and hence I named the franchise RCB,” he wrote.
The scale of that bet is now evident, with the franchise valued at approximately INR 16,600 crore. “Immensely gratifying to see my INR 450 crore investment grow to INR 16,600 crore,” he added, underlining the exponential growth of the league and the brand. Also See: Check all upcoming games, dates and venues in the IPL Schedule 2026 here.