Image: Aryaman Birla chairs RCB after massive Birla Group acquisition / © Business Standard
The IPL is all set to start from 28th March 2026 and the fans are excited for it. But before the start of the tournament, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made headlines with a massive ownership change. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group acquired 100% ownership of the franchise from United Spirits Limited for USD 1.78 billion, which is approximately Rs 16,706 crore. The deal also includes both the men’s and women’s teams.
The consortium features major players like the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone’s BXPE, but the Aditya Birla Group remains the driving force. Following this acquisition, Aryaman Birla, son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, is expected to take over as the new chairman of RCB.
Aryaman, born on July 9, 1997, is not just a businessman but also a former professional cricketer. He played domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh and scored 414 runs in nine First-Class matches, including a century. He also shared the field with current RCB captain Rajat Patidar and was part of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018. After stepping away from cricket in 2019, Aryaman shifted focus to business, emerging as a modern entrepreneur within the Aditya Birla Group.