The Competition Commission of India (CCI) officially cleared the ₹16,660 crore buyout of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 30 June 2026. An Aditya Birla-led consortium is acquiring the cricket franchise from United Spirits Ltd (USL) in a massive all-cash deal. This powerful group includes the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone. Therefore, the path is now clear for a formal change in ownership for one of India’s most famous sports teams.
C-2026/05/1425 : CCI approves acquisition of 100% shareholding of Royal Challengers Sports by a consortium comprising Big Banyan Holdings, Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet, Times Cricket, ICQ Opportunities, Asia Investment Topco II and others pic.twitter.com/mPTgEKTw0U
— CCI (@CCI_India) June 30, 2026
The deal involves the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares in Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd. This entity owns both the Men’s team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s team in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Consequently, this $1.78 billion transaction stands as one of the largest deals in the history of the IPL.
Details of the Aditya Birla Consortium Buyout
The new ownership structure is a combination of several global business giants operating the franchise. Aryaman Vikram Birla, a director of the Aditya Birla Group will lead the franchise. Satyan Gajwani of The Times of India will take on the role of vice-chairman.
The buying group is made up of several different companies to give strong financial backing. The companies include Big Banyan Holdings (Aditya Birla Group), Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet and Times Cricket. The group also includes ICQ Opportunities and Asia Investment Topco II, a fund managed by Blackstone.
The Aditya Birla Group plans to operate the team through its company, Big Banyan Holdings. This global conglomerate already has deep roots in many industries like metals, cement, fashion, and retail. Furthermore, the group previously sponsored RCB and other teams like the Rajasthan Royals. Their real estate branch, Birla Estates, even sponsored the Gujarat Titans during the 2026 season.
International Investors Join the RCB Family
This deal highlights the growing value of Indian sports assets for international investors. For instance, Bolt Ventures is part of the winning consortium. This company belongs to David Blitzer, who is a very famous sports investor. Consequently, RCB now shares an owner with global teams like Crystal Palace in the Premier League and the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.
Furthermore, Blackstone has joined the deal as the world’s largest alternative asset manager. They handle massive investments in real estate, private equity, and credit. Their presence in this deal shows that the biggest financial experts in the world believe in the future of the IPL.
Times Internet Limited brings in strong media expertise. Satyan Gajwani-led company also has stakes in other cricket teams, including the London Spirit and teams in Major League Cricket. This means the new ownership group has a unique blend of local business strength and global sports expertise.
The Role of the Competition Commission of India
The CCI is India’s fair trade regulator to ensure fair business competition. The RCB sale was so large that the CCI had to investigate the matter. If it is above a certain financial threshold, the regulator will examine the deals to ensure there are no unfair business practices.
The CCI announced the approval through a post on the social media platform X. The regulator confirmed the deal does not harm competition in the Indian market by giving the green light. This approval means that the consortium can take control of the team.
RCB’s Path to the Historic Sale
The journey to this sale began in November 2025. At that time, the liquor company Diageo announced it would review its non-core assets, which included the RCB franchise. Subsequently, many famous groups tried to buy the team. The Glazer family, who own Manchester United, showed strong interest in the franchise.
Furthermore, Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India also tried to acquire the team. However, the Aditya Birla-led consortium later outbid the rest with an offer of ₹16,660 crore. Meanwhile, Mr. Poonawalla joined a different group led by Lakshmi Mittal to buy the Rajasthan Royals for $1.65 billion.
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