Who Owns Royal Challengers Bangalore?

Royal Challengers Bangalore was founded in 2008 as one of the eight original franchises in the Indian Premier League. The franchise was purchased by United Breweries Group, controlled by Indian business magnate Vijay Mallya, for approximately $111.6 million at the IPL franchise auction. The team's name "Royal Challengers" was derived from United Breweries' Royal Challenge whisky brand, reflecting the deep connection between the franchise and its parent company's beverage portfolio.

RCB competed in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and quickly established itself as one of the league's most exciting teams, known for aggressive batting and star-studded rosters. The franchise reached its first IPL final in 2009, losing to the Deccan Chargers. RCB reached the final again in 2011 and 2016, but the elusive IPL title remained out of reach, earning the team a reputation as perennial contenders who could not quite win the championship.

The franchise's identity became inseparable from Virat Kohli, who joined RCB in 2008 as a teenager and went on to become the team's captain and the face of the franchise. Kohli's loyalty to RCB, despite never winning an IPL title with the team, became one of cricket's most compelling narratives. In 2024, RCB finally won their maiden IPL title, ending years of heartbreak for their passionate fan base.

Following Vijay Mallya's financial troubles and departure from India, ownership control effectively passed to Diageo, which had acquired a controlling stake in United Breweries. The franchise has become one of the most valuable IPL teams, with an estimated brand value exceeding $100 million. RCB's fan base, known as the "12th Man Army," is one of the largest and most passionate in Indian cricket, with millions of followers across social media platforms.