Blackstone Joins Consortium to Acquire RCB for $1.78 Billion
Athreya Yegneswaran
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has entered a new era after Blackstone joined a consortium that agreed to acquire 100% of the franchise in a deal valued at approximately $1.78 billion. The agreement, announced on March 24, 2026, includes the Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy, BXPE. The consortium is acquiring the company that owns both RCB’s Indian Premier League and Women’s Premier League teams from United Spirits, a subsidiary of Diageo. The deal comes shortly after RCB won its first IPL championship in 2025, giving the franchise additional momentum heading into a change in ownership.
For Blackstone, the acquisition also marks an expansion into professional sports ownership. The investment is being made through BXPE, and brings the firm together with organizations that already have significant experience in business, media and sports. The Times of India Group brings its cricket media platforms and international sports interests, while Bolt Ventures is led by David Blitzer, who has ownership stakes in several professional sports organizations. Aryaman Vikram Birla was announced as chairman of RCB, while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group was named vice chairman
This deal also reflects how professional cricket has developed into a major global business. RCB is no longer simply a cricket team competing for an IPL trophy; it has become a large sports brand with opportunities in media, sponsorships, merchandise and international expansion. The acquisition still required regulatory approval, and the Competition Commission of India approved the consortium’s acquisition of 100% of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited on June 30, 2026. With a new ownership group now overseeing the franchise, RCB will enter its next chapter carrying both the expectations of its supporters and the financial ambitions of some of the biggest names in sports and investment.
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