Who Will Lead RCB? Aditya Birla Group's Bold Bid for IPL Franchise

In a significant move for the IPL, the Aditya Birla Group has emerged as the leading bidder to acquire the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise for an impressive USD 1.78 billion. This consortium, which includes Blackstone and Times of India, aims to take full control of both the men's and women's teams. With formalities pending for approval from various governing bodies, this acquisition could reshape the future of RCB. Learn more about the implications of this deal and the other contenders in the race.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 22:26 IST

Major Acquisition in IPL: Aditya Birla Group Takes the Lead

Bengaluru: On Tuesday, a consortium spearheaded by the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) emerged as the primary bidder for the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with a staggering bid of USD 1.78 billion (around Rs 16,706 crore).

The consortium also includes notable players such as Blackstone, led by CEO Viral Patel, Bolt Ventures, owned by American investor David Blitzer, and the media giant Times of India.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the consortium has finalized an agreement with United Spirits Limited (USL) to acquire a complete stake in RCB, which encompasses both the men's and women's teams.

United Spirits, a subsidiary of UK-based Diageo, has expressed a desire to divest from RCB as the franchise does not align with their core business objectives.

As part of the acquisition agreement, Aryaman Vikram Birla, a director at ABG, is set to take on the role of chairman for RCB, while Satyan Gajwani from Times of India will serve as his deputy.

However, the deal is still subject to approvals from the BCCI, IPL Governing Council, the WPL governing body, and the Competition Commission of India.

Previously, the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals was purchased by a consortium led by Kal Somani from the US for USD 1.63 billion (approximately Rs 15,290 crore).

This consortium includes Rob Walton from the Walmart family and the Hamp family, associated with Ford Motor Company.

Somani, a tech entrepreneur based in Arizona, has established several companies, including IntraEdge (technology services), Truyo.Ai (data privacy and AI governance), and Academian (edtech services).

Other bidders for the team, which clinched the inaugural trophy in 2008, included a consortium led by Times Internet, the Aditya Birla Group, and the Mittal family, headed by ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal.