Vijay Mallya mulls RCB’s historic ₹16,700 sale ahead of IPL 2026

Indian Premier League (IPL) has entered a new stratosphere of financial dominance after the historic acquisition of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In a deal that has shocked the global sports market, a high-powered consortium led by Aditya Birla Group Completed the purchase of 100% of the franchise at a whopping price of $1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,700 crore). This historic transaction not only crowns RCB as the most expensive franchise in IPL history, but also signals a sea change in the value of prime sporting properties in India.

The acquisition, which includes both the men’s IPL team and the Reign Women’s Premier League (WPL) The champion side was finalized in March 2026. The winning consortium brings together a dynamic mix of Indian industrial heritage and global private equity, including the Aditya Birla Group., black Stone, David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures, and Times of India Group. Under new leadership, Aryaman Vikram BirlaThe former professional cricketer and director of Aditya Birla Group is set to take over as chairman.

Vijay Mallya shares his views on RCB’s record-breaking ₹16,700 crore deal

Reacting to the news from the UK, the founder of the franchise, vijay mallyaTook to social media to reflect on the team’s tremendous growth. Mallya, who originally bought the franchise for ₹450 crore ($111.6 million) in 2008, noted with a sense of ‘immense satisfaction’ how his initial investment has grown nearly 37 times in 18 years. He recalled the skepticism he faced during the league’s inception, noting that many critics had dismissed his bid as a mere ‘vanity project’.

“I want to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish him all the best and all the best for the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise for Rs 450 crore in 2008, most people laughed at me and criticized my investment as a vanity project. The drive behind my much-publicized madness was the creation of the Royal Challenger brand and hence I named the franchise RCB. It is a great pleasure to see that my investment of Rs 450 crore has increased to Rs 16,500 crore. RCB will always be a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including picking up a young Virat Kohli, who is now one of the best players in the world. To all the RCB fans who came on board during and after my tenure, a big thank you and please continue to support RCB, the Bengaluru Lion. Hello“Mallya posted on X.

He stressed that the franchise remains part of their “DNA”, particularly highlighting his role in the signing of a youngster in 2008. Virat Kohli. Kohli, who led the team to its first IPL title in 2025, has become the face of a brand whose premium valuation is now 15% to 20% higher than other top-tier teams.

Also read: Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquires RCB in record-breaking deal ahead of IPL 2026

A new era of global investment in Indian sports

The RCB deal was the second part of a historic ‘double-header’ for the IPL business. Just a few days ago, Rajasthan Royals It was acquired for $1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,300 crore) by a consortium led by a US-based tech entrepreneur. tomorrow somani. This group included giants like Rob Walton (heirs to the Walmart fortune) and the Hamp family (owners of the NFL’s Detroit Lions).

sell by United Spirits Limited (Diageo India) marks a strategic exit for the beverages giant, which has classified the sports asset as ‘non-core’. For the new owners, the appeal lies in the IPL’s resilient brand equity, which was highly valued until recently $18.5 billion. With the involvement of global giants like Blackstone and Bolt Ventures, which has a stake in the Philadelphia 76ers and Crystal Palace, RCB is expected to transform itself into a ‘global sporting institution’ while maintaining its deep connection with the fans in Karnataka.

Also read: IPL 2026: Who is Aryaman Birla? Meet the new chairman of RCB