In a significant development for cricket fans, Amrit Thomas has officially taken over as the chairman of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28, 2026. This change comes after a record acquisition of the franchise by a consortium including the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone for an astonishing $1.78 billion.
The acquisition values RCB at INR 166.6 billion, marking a dramatic shift from its earlier ownership under Vijay Mallya, who purchased the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores. Mallya’s tenure was marred by financial scandals, leading to this pivotal change in leadership.
RCB, which recently celebrated its first IPL trophy victory in 2025, is now the defending champion as they enter the 2026 season. Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, the team is poised for another exciting season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Vijay Mallya, reflecting on the franchise’s journey, stated, “When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project.” His comments underscore the transformation RCB has undergone since then.
As the IPL 2026 season opener approaches, Mallya expressed his sentiments, saying, “The Day has arrived for our Lions of Bengaluru…namma sinhagulu…IPL Champions. Good Luck and Play Bold…Dhairyadinda ațavadi.” His words resonate with the pride and passion that RCB fans hold for their team.
The transition to new ownership has been met with mixed reactions. While some fans are excited about the fresh direction under Thomas, others remain nostalgic about Mallya’s era. The sale, while lucrative, is seen as bittersweet for Mallya, who has been a prominent figure in the franchise’s history.
As RCB embarks on this new chapter, the cricketing world watches closely. The implications of this ownership change could reshape the franchise’s future, both on and off the field.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the long-term plans of the new ownership group, but the immediate focus will be on maintaining RCB’s competitive edge in the IPL.
With the 2026 season underway, fans are hopeful that the changes will bring continued success and perhaps even more trophies to the RCB cabinet.
