On Tuesday, a group headed by Aditya Birla wrapped up the buyout of IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 1.78 billion – that number stretches past Rs 16,000 crore. Included in the investor mix are Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures run by David Blitzer, along with Blackstone, an American financial firm. Their agreement was struck with United Spirits Limited, owned by Diageo out of the UK, securing full ownership of RCB including its male and female squads under WPL. With new hands at the wheel, Aryaman Birla steps into the role of chairman after the shift in control.
Who Is Aryaman Birla?
A young man named Aryaman Birla happens to be the child of Kumar Mangalam Birla, who leads the Aditya Birla Group. At 28, he once chased wickets on dusty fields instead of boardrooms, turning out for Madhya Pradesh in local matches. Teammates in those days included Rajat Patidar – now leading Royal Challengers Bangalore – and Venkatesh Iyer, the versatile player bought for 70 million rupees at an auction. Their paths crossed under one roof, sharing gloves, gear, and long hours between overs.
A southpaw with Madhya Pradesh, he faced bowlers in nine first-class games, gathering 414 runs – one hundred coming during a clash with Bengal at Eden Gardens. Four appearances in List-A cricket brought him 36 more.
A fresh start at the 2018 IPL mega auction saw Aryaman picked up by Rajasthan Royals, his price tag sitting at 30 lakh rupees. Still, game time never came – no appearances on the field for that team. Come 2020, before the next season stirred, he found himself let go.
Just then, Aryaman stepped back from cricket – quietly, without fanfare – to handle what he called deep anxiety
“I have felt trapped. I have pushed myself through all the distress so far but now I feel the need to put my mental health and well being above all else,” Birla wrote on Instagram. “We all have our own journeys and I want to take this time to understand myself better, open my mind to new and varied perspectives and seek purpose in my findings.”
Football came later, though his main role now sits at Aditya Birla Management Corporation Limited as director. Still, the shift away from cricket stayed permanent.
Aryaman Birla’s Statement?
Together, we step into this alliance to help guide RCB’s future moves. What stands out here is how well these teams know sports, media, and what people want. Then again, it’s not just about knowing – it’s about doing
