Ex-owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Vijay Mallya, reacted to RCB being sold for a record price ahead of the IPL 2026. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group completed the acquisition of the franchise for USD 1.78 billion.
Blackstone, Times of India, and US-based investor David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures are also members of the consortium. RCB became the most expensive team in Indian Premier League (IPL) history as a result of the deal.
Taking to X, Mallya recounted how he paid Rs 450 crores for the RCB franchise and noted how it’s worth has increased intensely over time. RCB is also the defending champions, having won the IPL in 2025.
"I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my much-touted madness was building the Royal Challenge brand, and hence I named the franchise RCB.
Immensely gratifying to see my INR 450 crore investment grow to INR 16,500 crores. RCB will always remain a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including picking the young Virat Kohli who is now amongst the best in the World. To all RCB fans who came on board during my stewardship and beyond, a grateful thank you, and please continue to support RCB the Lion of Bengaluru. Namaskara," Mallya posted on X.
Apart from RCB, the 2008 IPL winners, Rajasthan Royals, were also acquired by a US-based Kal Somani-led consortium for USD 1.63 billion (approx Rs 15,290 crore). The Somani-led consortium includes Rob Walton from the Walmart family and the Hamp family (Ford Motor Company).
(PTI inputs)
