Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one of the Indian Premier League’s most iconic franchises, has been sold for an extraordinary ₹21,850 crore, or approximately $1.78 billion, marking a historic surge in valuation of nearly 1,495 per cent since its original purchase.
The acquisition was completed by a business consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, alongside partners including the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone. This new ownership will assume full control of both Bengaluru’s men’s IPL team and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) squad, signalling a new era for the franchise.
| Year | Owner | Purchase Price | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | United Breweries (Vijay Mallya) | $111.6 million | Second-highest priced team among eight franchises at launch |
| 2016 | Diageo (UK-based) | N/A | Took over after Mallya’s exit from India |
| 2021 | BCCI (Lucknow & Ahmedabad franchises) | $1.69 billion | Provides comparative benchmark for team valuations |
| 2026 | Aditya Birla-led Consortium | $1.78 billion (₹21,850 crore) | Complete ownership of IPL and WPL teams |
Originally purchased by Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries in 2008, Bengaluru was then valued at $111.6 million, making it the second most expensive franchise in the league. Over the past 18 years, the franchise’s value has skyrocketed, surpassing even the combined cost of the two newest IPL franchises sold in 2021, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
Following Mallya’s departure from India in 2016, the team came under the control of the UK-based company Diageo. A tragic incident during Bengaluru’s championship celebrations on 4 June 2025 resulted in the deaths of 11 fans and injuries to many others. The ensuing public and media pressure accelerated the decision to sell the franchise, with the process officially initiated last November and concluded by 31 March 2026.
Under the new structure, Aryaman Vikram Birla, director of the Aditya Birla Group and son of chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, has been appointed chairman. Aryaman, a former first-class cricketer for Madhya Pradesh, was previously part of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL squads in 2018 and 2019, although he did not feature in any matches and stepped away from cricket indefinitely in 2019 due to mental health concerns.
The vice-chairman role will be filled by Satyen Gajwani of the Times of India Group. Other notable members of the consortium include David Blitzer of Bolt Ventures and Viral Patel, CEO of BXPE, underscoring the breadth and strategic depth of the new ownership.
This acquisition not only reflects the growing commercial value of IPL franchises but also highlights the increasing institutional interest in Indian cricket, both in men’s and women’s leagues.