Will RCB’s name change after ₹16,000 crore sale? Ananya Birla clarifies

In an Instagram story, Ananya—daughter of Kumar Mangalam Birla—stated that the franchise’s name will remain unchanged.

She reported a story that reads, "RCB is sold for 16705 crores.. A consortium of Aditya Birla Group, David Blitzer, Blackstone has acquired RCB.

"Good news is as per reports Aditya Birla group have confirmed that the name ‘Royal Challengers Bengaluru’ will remain same."

Photo: Screen-grab

A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group—along with the Times of India Group, David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures, and US-based Blackstone—has acquired a 100% stake of RCB from United Spirits Ltd., a subsidiary of UK-based Diageo plc.

The RCB announcement follows a similar development, with Rajasthan Royals stating that Kal Somani, Rob Walton (Walmart family), and the Hamp (Ford) family have acquired the Jaipur-based franchise for $1.6 billion.

Aryaman Vikram Birla will serve as chairman of RCB, while Satyan Gajwani will be vice chairman.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, said, “RCB offers us a distinctive platform to extend our legacy into global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to building its extraordinary legacy.”

Gajwani added, “RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL. Together with our partners, we aim to develop RCB into a global sporting institution while staying rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and supporting the players, coaches, and fans who built this championship-winning culture.”

The deal underscores the increasing valuation of IPL franchises as global sporting and commercial assets.