MS Dhoni Virat Kohli for CSK and RCB. Image Credits: X
On Tuesday, the RCB franchise was sold to a consortium consisting of the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone’s BXPE, with the United Spirits Limited transferring 100% shares for USD 1.78 billion.
This acquisition covers both the teams under the franchise: the RCB men's team in the IPL and the RCB women's team in the WPL. Aditya Birla Group's Aryaman Vikram Birla will be the new chair of the franchise, while Satyan Gajwani from the Times Group will be the Vice-Chairman.
Interestingly, the takeover has officially been completed, as the consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group will hold all rights from IPL 2026 onward.
The consortium for Royal Challengers Bengaluru is looked at as a flawless maneuver, with each group bringing expertise from their respective area.
Does MS Dhoni have shares in RCB?
Just one day after the RCB acquisition, speculation has begun to circulate that former CSK captain MS Dhoni is also part of it. But the question is: What does Dhoni have to do with the USD 1.78 billion deal of RCB?
Around two years ago, UltraTech Cement Ltd, a flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, acquired a 33.72% stake in India Cement, which was once owned by the owners of the Chennai Super Kings.
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What's MS Dhoni role in India Cements?
Interestingly, MS Dhoni was among the cricketers employed by India Cements, alongside Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthik, Ravi Ashwin and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan.
Reportedly, Dhoni also became the Vice President (Marketing) at India Cements Limited in July 2012, but neither the cricketer nor the company ever commented on the same.
As CSK became an independent company from India Cements Ltd in 2015, UltraTech Cement Ltd, or the Aditya Birla Group, had no power over the Chennai-based franchise, which rules out Dhoni’s connection with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"Chennai Super Kings and India Cements are different entities. India Cements no longer controls the CSK team. The team is run by a company called Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL)," Kasi Viswanathan, the CEO of CSK, had told Cricbuzz at the time of the UltraTech-India Cements deal.
When will the new takeover occur in Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
On Tuesday, the United Spirits Limited announced that they have already handed over the rights for the RCB franchise to the four-company consortium. This means the Aditya Birla Group and Times Group-led venture will become the owners of the two teams, in the WPL and IPL, from March 24, 2026, onwards.
There are solid speculations that the stampede, which killed 11 civilians on June 4, 2025, outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL triumph, was the prime reason behind United Spirits Limited selling off the franchise.
After the acquisition, the consortium will own both the Royal Challengers Bengaluru teams, who are the reigning champions in the respective leagues. Moreover, Birla Estates, another venture of the Aditya Birla Group, is the principal sponsor of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
The Virat Kohli-studded and Rajat Patidar-led RCB side will begin its campaign on March 28 against the SunRisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.
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