The Competition Commission of India approved a consortium's proposed acquisition of all shares in Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited on July 1, 2026. The target operates the Royal Challengers Bengaluru teams in both the IPL and Women's Premier League.
The named buyers include Big Banyan Holdings, Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet, Times Cricket, ICQ Opportunities RC Holdco and Asia Investment Topco II, alongside other investors involved in funding arrangements.
CCI's account distinguishes the acquisition vehicles from their wider groups. Big Banyan belongs to the Aditya Birla group, ICQ is part of ICONIQ, and Topco is controlled by funds advised or managed by Blackstone affiliates. Times Internet has an existing digital-products business; several other named entities were newly incorporated.
The significance is corporate control of the franchise operator, not the transfer of an individual player's contract. CCI's combination-review role concerns potential effects on competition in relevant markets, which is separate from assessing sporting performance.
CCI said a detailed order would follow. The approval notice did not disclose the deal's value or ownership shares within the consortium.
