Sale Done: RCB acquire by four-member consortium led by Aditya Birla Group just before IPL 2026
(Courtesy : BCCI)
RCB will begin their title defence on March 28.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history in the 2025 season, when the team finally won their first IPL trophy. Captain Rajat Patidar ended the franchise’s 18-year-long wait in his first-ever captaincy stint.
Now, defending champions RCB kick off their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
However, good news has come for RCB and their fans. Ahead of the upcoming season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to have new owners as their sale has been completed.
RCB’s new ownership confirmed
After weeks and months of discussion over which group would acquire the buying rights for RCB, the Aditya Birla Group, American Sports Investor David Blitzer, TOI group, and Blackstone-led consortium have emerged as the winners.
While official numbers and announcements are still awaited, multiple reports suggest that the four-member consortium bought RCB for a valuation of around 1.8 billion USD (approx 16,705 crore).
RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka confirmed this development on X, saying, “RCB Sold to Birlas! Great move!”
The Birla Group has to win an intense battle to acquire the rights to a franchise with one of the largest fan bases in the sports world. Earlier today, the Rajasthan Royals deal also completed; they were sold to a US-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani for $1.63 billion (approx 15,300 crore).
The Aditya Birla Group also bid for RR. However, the group has eventually completed the RCB deal. David Blitzer, who is the joint-bidder for RCB, is an American sports investor with multiple stakes in sporting teams, including the New Jersey Devils (National Hockey League), Crystal Palace (Premier League) and Philadelphia 76ers (NBA).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are gearing up for IPL 2026
Virat Kohli will once again be back in RCB colours, alongside Phil Salt at the top. Jacob Bethell’s recent fireworks at the T20 World Cup 2026 could force the management to find a way to play him in the starting 11. The likes of Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, and Tim David make their unit formidable.
The bowling area, though, will be a concern for the defending champions, with Yash Dayal set to miss the tournament. Josh Hazlewood will miss the initial matches, putting extra pressure on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya.
Who will lead RCB in IPL 2026?
Rajat Patidar is the captain of RCB in the tournament.
Who bought RCB?
Aditya Birla Group, American Sports Investor David Blitzer, TOI group, and Blackstone-led consortium have emerged as the new RCB ownership.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.