New Delhi: Ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been acquired for a record Rs. 166.6 billion (approximately ₹16,660 crore) by a high-profile consortium. The group, led by the Aditya Birla Group along with The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone, will assume full ownership of the franchise, including both its IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams.
Following the completion of the deal, former cricketer Aryaman Birla was appointed chairman of the franchise. He is the son of billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group. In a statement after the acquisition, Aryaman Birla expressed pride in the partnership and outlined a bold vision for the franchise’s future both on and off the field.
“It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB. Together, we will continue to Play Bold — on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is,” he said.
Aryaman Birla had a brief but noteworthy stint in domestic cricket, primarily in the First-Class format. In the Ranji Trophy, he played nine matches, scoring 414 runs at an average of around 27.60, including one century and two half-centuries. His highest score of 103 underlined his potential as a top-order batsman.
At the age of 17, he left home to move to Madhya Pradesh to pursue cricket. Prior to that, he had gained exposure in England, representing West Hampstead Cricket Club and the London Schools Cricket Association under former Middlesex cricketer Paul Weekes.
In List A (one-day) cricket, his appearances were limited. He featured in four matches, scoring 36 runs at an average of approximately 9.00, with a highest score of 25, suggesting he was unable to establish himself in the shorter format.
His T20 career was even more limited, with just two appearances and no runs scored, offering little opportunity to make an impact in the shortest format of the game.
At the IPL level, Aryaman was part of the Rajasthan Royals squad during the 2018 season. However, he did not feature in the playing XI for the inaugural champions during his time with the franchise.
In 2019, Aryaman Birla took an indefinite break from cricket due to mental health challenges, which he openly acknowledged. Since then, he has remained away from professional cricket.
Following his departure from the sport, he transitioned into the corporate world, gradually assuming leadership roles within the Aditya Birla Group. He holds an MBA (Honours) from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Global Finance from Bayes Business School, and a Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai. He currently serves on the board of the Aditya Birla Management Corporation and holds directorships in key group companies, including Grasim Industries and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.
Now, seven years after stepping away from professional cricket, Aryaman Birla returns to the sport in a leadership capacity, marking a new chapter both for himself and for RCB.