Royal Challengers Bangalore Becomes Most Expensive IPL Team in History After $1.78 Billion Acquisition.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have set a new record by becoming the most expensive team in IPL history. RCB has been acquired for $1.78 billion (INR 16,706 crore).
Bangalore is now the most expensive team, surpassing the recent mark set by the Rajasthan Royals. The Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone Perpetual Private Equity have jointly acquired the RCB men’s and women’s teams, according to a Cricbuzz report. The record was previously held by the Rajasthan Royals, who were acquired for $1.63 billion by a group headed by American businessman Cal Somani, who is of Indian descent.
IPL 2026 schedule: First part and fixtures of Indian Premier League Released
Former Cricket Player Aryaman Birla Takes on New Leadership: Aryaman Birla, a director of the Aditya Birla Group, has been named chairman of RCB upon its new ownership. The 28-year-old Aryaman is more than just a businessman; he was once a top-tier cricket player.
New Challenges for the Champion Team
RCB is currently the reigning champion in both the IPL and the WPL (Women’s Premier League). The team will start the 2026 season with new owners and new enthusiasm.
In the opening match of IPL 2026 on March 28, Bangalore will face Sunrisers Hyderabad. Following that, they will clash with Chennai Super Kings in Bangalore on April 5, and the schedule shows matches against Rajasthan in Guwahati on April 10 and Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on April 12.
Rajasthan Royals have seen an even greater surge in valuation, jumping 24 times. Rajasthan, which was sold for only $67 million in 2008, has now reached $1.63 billion, confirming how powerful the global market for the IPL is. Although final approval from other regulatory bodies for this transaction is still pending, the acquisition of RCB and Rajasthan has astonished the global sports market.
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