New Delhi, Mar 25 (V7N) – After the sale of Rajasthan Royals, another major Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has been sold in a landmark deal valued at approximately $1.78 billion (around Tk 21,850 crore).

The franchise has been acquired by a business consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, alongside the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone. The new ownership is set to take full control of the team after the 2026 IPL season.

RCB—often associated with star players like Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana—was originally purchased in 2008 by Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries for $111.6 million, making it the second most expensive team at the time. Since then, the franchise’s value has surged by nearly 1,500 percent, reflecting the rapid commercial growth of the IPL.

Following Vijay Mallya’s departure from India in 2016, control of the franchise shifted to the UK-based beverage giant Diageo.

The decision to sell the franchise comes amid growing pressure following a tragic incident on June 4 last year, when 11 fans were killed and several others injured in a stampede during celebrations related to the team. The incident intensified scrutiny on management, eventually leading to the announcement of a sale in November.

The sale underscores the soaring valuation of IPL franchises, as global investors continue to show strong interest in the league, widely regarded as one of the most lucrative cricket tournaments in the world.

END/SMA/AJ