RCB sold for $1.78 bn to Aditya Birla, Times of India-led consortium

Exam-focused facts from the 26 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was acquired for $1.78 billion (around ₹16,600 crore) by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and The Times of India Group, along with Bolt Ventures and Blackstone.
The franchise is being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc.
The transaction is subject to approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council.
After the 2026 IPL season, Aryaman Vikram Birla will become chairman and Satyan Gajwani of The Times of India Group will serve as vice-chairman of RCB.
United Spirits had originally bought the Bengaluru franchise in 2008 for $111.6 million (around ₹485 crore).
RCB won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024 and its maiden IPL trophy in 2025.