Ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has entered a new corporate era following a major ownership change. United Spirits Limited has sold the franchise to a consortium for $1.78 billion, making it the most expensive franchise acquisition in the history of professional cricket.
Following the deal, the new ownership group has appointed Aryaman Birla as the chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore. This consortium includes Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone. The deal is subject to final approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Who is Aryaman Birla? A look at his cricket journey
Aryaman Birla pursued a professional cricket career before going into business. He represented Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. Aryaman played nine first-class matches and scored 414 runs at an average of 27.6, including one century and one half-century.
He started his journey at a young age, moving from Mumbai to Madhya Pradesh and gaining exposure in England. Aryaman made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2017 and had a strong performance in the CK Nayudu Trophy season, scoring 602 runs at an average of 75.25 with three centuries.
During his domestic stint, he shared the dressing room with Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer. He was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 30 lakh in the IPL 2018 auction, but he did not appear in a single match and later stepped away from cricket to focus on business.
Aryaman Birla on walking away from professional cricket – I felt stuck
Despite securing an IPL contract, Aryaman Birla did not get a chance to play matches for Rajasthan Royals. His cricket journey, which was showing early promise, took a sudden turn as he struggled to deal with the pressure at the professional level.
In December 2019, Aryaman announced an indefinite break from cricket. He talked about his battle with performance anxiety and mental health. The former cricketer decided to step away from the game to focus on his well-being and understand himself better.
He wrote, “I feel stuck. I’ve pulled myself out of trouble so far, but now I feel the need to put my mental health and well-being first. We all have our own journeys and I want to take this time to better understand myself, open my mind to new and diverse perspectives, and find purpose in my findings.”
Aryaman Birla on new role – shaping the next phase of RCB’s development
After stepping away from professional cricket, Aryaman Birla moved into the corporate world and took up leadership roles within the Aditya Birla Group. He currently serves as a director at Grasim Industries and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.
As the new Chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Aryaman will work with a strong leadership group. Satyan Gajwani has been appointed vice-president, while David Blitzer and Viral Patel will also play key roles in the management of the franchise.
“It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of RCB’s development,” he said in a statement. “Together, we will continue to play bold on the field, in the community and for the fans who make RCB what it is.”
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