New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore, the defending champions, continue to be a major topic of discussion ahead of the commencement of the 19th season of the IPL. Did you know that RCB has been acquired by a new group? Consequently, the question arises: will RCB’s name now be changed? Many such questions are currently swirling in the minds of the public.
Two days ago—specifically on Tuesday—a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group acquired a 100 per cent equity stake in the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore from its current owner, United Spirits Limited, for a staggering sum of USD 1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,706 crore). Several other parties are also part of this consortium.
These include Blackstone’s Perpetual Private Equity Strategy (BXPE)—a firm led by CEO Viral Patel—Bolt Ventures (owned by American investor David Blitzer), and the media conglomerate, the Times of India Group. RCB is recognised as one of the eight original IPL franchises that have been an integral part of the league since its inception in 2008. Furthermore, the team achieved the milestone of winning its first-ever IPL title in 2025.
Aditya Birla Group Member’s Post Goes Viral
There are many questions regarding whether or not the name will change. However, if one is to go by a post shared by Ananya Birla—a prominent figure within the Aditya Birla Group—it appears that RCB’s name will not be changed. In this context, Ananya reposted an Instagram Story stating that the team’s name would remain unchanged. Meanwhile, addressing the mega-sale involving RCB—a transaction that has effectively made it the most valuable IPL team to date—USL issued a statement declaring:
United Spirits Limited, following a meeting of its Board of Directors, announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements with a consortium to divest its entire 100 per cent equity stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL).
Includes Both Men’s and Women’s Teams
It is worth noting that RCSPL owns and operates the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. This franchise competes in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Upon the completion of this transaction, the consortium—through its ownership stake in RCSPL—will acquire the rights to own and operate both the IPL and WPL franchises.
With this announcement, the strategic review of RCSPL—which USL had initiated on November 5, 2025—has also been concluded.
