Aditya Birla Group and Consortium Acquire RCB for $1.78 Billion
Mumbai: A major consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India (TOI) Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise. The historic deal transfers ownership of both the men’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and women’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc, for a valuation of $1.78 billion.
Deal Structure and New Leadership
The transaction is subject to standard closing conditions, requiring formal approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council. Once finalized for the 2026 season, the new ownership group will restructure the franchise’s board.
| Entity / Role | Detail |
|---|---|
| Purchasing Consortium | Aditya Birla Group, TOI Group, Bolt Ventures, Blackstone |
| Seller | United Spirits Limited (Diageo plc) |
| Valuation | $1.78 billion (approx. INR 16,600 crore) |
| Incoming Chairman | Aryaman Vikram Birla (Aditya Birla Group) |
| Incoming Vice-Chairman | Satyan Gajwani (Times Internet Limited) |
Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, noted the opportunity to extend the group’s institution-building into global sports. Satyan Gajwani of Times Internet Limited emphasized the consortium’s intention to maintain the team’s strong roots in Bengaluru while expanding its global sporting footprint.
Competitive Bidding Process
The acquisition process initiated by Diageo plc attracted several high-profile bidders before the Aditya Birla consortium secured the franchise. Other interested parties included:
- Adar Poonawalla (Serum Institute of India)
- Ranjan Pai (Manipal Hospitals)
- Private equity firms EQT, TPG, and Temasek
- The Glazer family (owners of Manchester United)
Franchise Financial History and Growth
The $1.78 billion valuation represents an enormous return on investment for United Spirits Limited. During the inaugural Indian Premier League auction in 2008, USL submitted a winning bid of $111.6 million to acquire the Bengaluru franchise. In 2023, the RCB management expanded its portfolio by paying INR 901 crore to secure the Bengaluru franchise in the Women’s Premier League.
On the field, RCB captured the WPL championship in 2024, followed by their first IPL title in 2025, elevating the franchise’s commercial value directly ahead of the sale.
Brand Valuation and Market Position
RCB consistently maintains high engagement metrics across broadcast and digital platforms. According to 2025 brand valuations by Brand Finance and global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, RCB ranks among the top three most valuable IPL properties, operating alongside the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
The franchise’s financial growth aligns directly with its roster of high-profile international players. Over the past 17 years, RCB has featured T20 icons such as Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Anil Kumble, Glenn Maxwell, Yuvraj Singh, and Faf du Plessis. Kohli’s tenure as captain beginning in 2013, combined with his status as former Team India captain, significantly accelerated the team’s commercial popularity and social media reach across global cricket markets.