The sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League has sent shockwaves through the cricket and business worlds, closing at a staggering ₹16,660 crore all-cash deal. The new ownership group—a high-powered consortium featuring the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone—now holds the keys to what’s officially one of the most valuable franchises in IPL history.
But for controversial former owner Vijay Mallya, the moment is especially poignant. On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Mallya broke his silence with a candid post on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting on his journey with RCB. “When I bought the franchise in 2008 for ₹450 crore, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project,” he wrote. “Behind my much touted madnesses was building the Royal Challenge brand and hence I named the franchise RCB. Immensely gratifying to see my ₹450 crore investment grow to ₹16,500 crores.”
From Criticism to Cricketing Gold
Back in 2008, Mallya’s bid for the Bengaluru-based team was seen as risky—frivolous, even. The ₹450 crore price tag drew mockery and skepticism, with many dismissing the move as a “vanity project.” Today, the numbers tell a different story: RCB’s valuation has soared to nearly $2 billion (about ₹18,776 crore), making it a crown jewel of the IPL.
Mallya, who’s been a polarizing figure since leaving India, expressed satisfaction at how his much-maligned gamble paid off. In a heartfelt statement, he thanked RCB fans and reminisced about “indelible memories including picking the young Virat Kohli who is now amongst the best in the World.” Mallya called it “immensely gratifying” to see his original investment multiply nearly 37-fold.
Virat Kohli and the RCB Legacy
Mallya’s post also spotlighted his early faith in Virat Kohli, RCB’s talisman since the beginning. “When I founded RCB it was my dream that the IPL trophy should come to Bengaluru. I had the privilege of picking the legendary King Kohli as a youngster and it is remarkable that he has stayed with RCB for 18 years,” he wrote in a previous tweet.
As the franchise enters a new era under fresh ownership, Mallya urged fans to “support RCB, the Lion of Bengaluru,” promising that the team “would always remain a part of his DNA.” For many, the sale is more than a business headline—it’s the closing of a dramatic chapter in Indian cricket history, with Mallya’s bold bet now remembered as one of the sport’s biggest success stories.
