Image File: Vijay Mallya and Virat Kohli NEW DELHI: Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner Vijay Mallya has broken his silence after the landmark sale of the IPL franchise, calling it an emotional moment and insisting that RCB will “always remain a part of my DNA”. His contribution to X struck a nostalgic tone, harkening back to the team’s early days and its remarkable rise in value.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!“I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them all the best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise,” Mallya wrote, praising the consortium led by Aditya Birla Group and Tech Word News Group. Reflecting on his bold move in 2008, he added, “When I bought the franchise for INR 450 million in 2008, most people laughed at me and criticized my investment as a vanity project.”
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RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute and squad updateMallya defended the decision, saying it was part of a larger vision. “Behind my much-vaunted madness was building the Royal Challenge brand, hence naming the franchise RCB,” he wrote. The scale of this bet is now apparent, with the franchise valued at around INR 16,600 crore. “I am extremely happy that my investment of INR 450 crore has grown to INR 16,600 crore,” he added, highlighting the exponential growth of the league and the brand.Also See: Check all upcoming games, dates and venues in IPL 2026 schedule here.
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One of the most striking parts of his message was the memory of supporting young Virat Kohli. “RCB will forever remain a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including the selection of a young Virat Kohli, who is now among the best in the world,” noted Mallya, linking the franchise’s journey with the rise of one of cricket’s biggest superstars. He also thanked the fan base, “To all the RCB fans who have come on board during and outside my stewardship, thank you and please continue to support RCB, the lion of Bengaluru. Namaskara.”The emotional contribution comes on the heels of a historic change of ownership, where a consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Tech Word News, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone acquired 100% of the franchise from United Spirits, a subsidiary of Diageo Plc. The deal, the biggest in IPL history, covers both IPL and WPL teams.
