'The name will not change' - Aryaman Birla confirms RCB to retain Royal Challengers Bengaluru identity

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will continue to operate under its established brand name following the ownership transition completed in March 2026. The franchise, now controlled by a consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone's perpetual private equity arm, has moved to settle speculation about potential rebranding.

The ownership consortium acquired RCB for $1.78 billion, approximately ₹16,706 crore, in a deal that included both the men's and women's teams competing in the Indian Premier League and Women's Premier League respectively. Aryaman Birla, son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Aditya Birla Group, assumed the role of chairman, while Satyan Gajwani was appointed vice-chairman.

"Royal Challengers Bengaluru — the name will not change. It's a huge brand and we love the name," Birla said as quoted by Revsportz.

Building beyond the IPL season

The women's team secured the second WPL championship in 2026, while the men's franchise won the IPL title in 2025, establishing early success under the new ownership structure.

Beyond the naming confirmation, Birla outlined the group's broader vision for the franchise. He explained that the ownership intends to develop RCB into an entity that extends well beyond the two-month IPL window by fostering deeper community engagement and strengthening connections with supporters throughout the year.

"If we can take the 30% of other revenue to 50%, I think that’s where the value will be created for us. We have to make sure that we invest very deeply, continue to invest in the cricket," said Birla.

Under their new ownership, Royal Challengers Bengaluru became IPL champions once again after defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It was RCB’s second IPL title and their second consecutive triumph, with Rajat Patidar leading the side successfully since taking over as captain.

The franchise will now be aiming to build on this success and add more IPL trophies to its cabinet. With a passionate fan base behind them, RCB will look to continue their strong run in the coming seasons. Virat Kohli also remains one of the franchise’s biggest faces and continues to play a key role in enhancing RCB’s brand value and attracting sponsors and commercial partners.