Virat Kohli and Ananya Birla (Source: AFP Photos and Instagram)One of the biggest developments has taken the cricketing world by surprise just before the start of the IPL 2026. Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been sold for a massive USD 1.78 billion (around ₹16,660 crore), making it one of the most expensive franchise deals.The franchise, previously owned by United Spirits Limited, has now been acquired by a powerful consortium. This group includes the Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, global investor David Blitzer through Bolt Ventures, and private equity giant Blackstone.With this deal, full ownership of both the IPL and WPL teams has shifted to the new consortium."Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy," Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said in a statement.RCB's name already changed before IPL 2024It is important to note that the franchise had earlier changed its name. In 2024, the team officially changed its name from Royal Challengers Bangalore to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.This update was made to align with the city's official name and was revealed during the ‘RCB Unbox’ event.Will RCB change its name after sale?One of the biggest questions among fans after the announcement has been whether the franchise will change its name. The ‘Royal Challengers’ identity has long been associated with the team.However, recent developments suggest that the name is likely to remain unchanged. A key hint came from Ananya Birla, who reposted a social media story stating that the franchise name will remain the same.Also Read: BCCI Cancels IPL Opening Ceremony, Takes Drastic Step Before RCB Vs SRHThere are also strong practical reasons behind this decision. The new ownership group has reportedly acquired trademark rights linked to the team's identity.Moreover, RCB has built a powerful brand over nearly two decades. Changing the name now could risk losing fan loyalty, brand recall, and commercial value. From a business perspective, keeping the name makes more sense.Ananya Birla's Instagram story (Source: Instagram)RCB's team and coaching staff in IPL 2026While ownership has changed, the team structure remains steady. Reports indicate that the coaching and support staff will remain unchanged for IPL 2026.Key figures such as director of cricket Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and mentor Dinesh Karthik are expected to stay. Other members of the backroom staff, including bowling coach Omkar Salvi and fielding expert Malolan Rangarajan, will also continue in their roles.RCB's schedule for IPL 2026 As defending champions, RCB will begin IPL 2026 with high expectations. Their opening match is scheduled against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. The team will also face Chennai Super Kings at home, followed by away matches against Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians on April 12 and 12.Also Read: Rawalpindiz Strongest XI For PSL 2026- Rizwan To Lead, Amir, Naseem In
.jpg?type=mq "BCCI Cancels IPL Opening Ceremony, Takes Drastic Step Before RCB Vs SRH")
