Former owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Vijay Mallya, expressed his satisfaction with the franchise’s recent sale for Rs 16,660 crore. The consortium, led by Aditya Birla Group, acquired RCB, making it the most expensive franchise in IPL history. Mallya reflected on his initial investment of Rs 450 crore, which has significantly appreciated over the years.
The consortium that purchased RCB includes Bolt Ventures and Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy. Mallya extended his congratulations to the new owners of RCB and emphasized the growth of his investment from Rs 450 crore to Rs 16,500 crores. He also highlighted the significance of building the Royal Challenge brand and shared his pride in selecting players like Virat Kohli during his tenure.
Aryaman Vikram Birla from Aditya Birla Group will serve as Chairman under the new ownership, with Satyan Gajwani of Times Internet Limited as Vice Chairman. The consortium also comprises David Blitzer of Bolt Ventures and Viral Patel, CEO of BXPE. RCB holds the distinction of being the only franchise to hold both the IPL and WPL titles simultaneously, with the men’s team winning the IPL in 2025 and the women’s team securing their second WPL title in February 2026.
