The group, which also includes The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone (BXPE), has taken control of both the men’s and women’s RCB teams. This deal establishes RCB as the most expensive franchise in IPL history, surpassing the Rajasthan Royals.
Aryaman Vikram Birla will assume the role of chairman. A former IPL cricketer, he is now stepping into a leadership position within the franchise.
Entrepreneur and global artist Ananya Birla has become a focal point online, with growing speculation about whether she might be the face of the cricket team.
Who is Aryaman Birla?
Born on July 9, 1997, in Mumbai, Aryaman is the son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of India’s richest individuals.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai, followed by a Master’s in Global Finance from Bayes Business School. He later completed an MBA (Honours) from Harvard Business School.
He took an early interest in cricket, training in Madhya Pradesh and representing the state in domestic competitions, where he excelled in the CK Nayudu U-23 tournament.
His Ranji Trophy debut was in 2017, and he attracted attention in 2018 with an unbeaten century against Bengal. That same year, the Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹30 lakh.
As a right-handed all-rounder, Aryaman Birla played two seasons (2018–19) with Rajasthan Royals but faced challenges with injuries and intense competition. He stepped away from cricket in 2019 at the age of 22.
After his departure from the sport, Aryaman transitioned into business, launching ventures in hospitality and startups within the Aditya Birla Group, and joining important company boards.
Who is Ananya Birla?
Born in 1994 in Mumbai, Ananya is the daughter of Kumar Mangalam Birla and attended the American School of Bombay before studying at the University of Oxford.
She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at 17 by founding Svatantra Microfin, which aims to provide small loans to rural women, and has since developed ventures in the digital and consumer sectors.
Alongside her business endeavors, she serves on boards within the Aditya Birla Group. An accomplished global pop singer, she has millions of streams and actively advocates for mental health through her initiative, Mpower.
Her pop tracks include Hold On, Better, Unstoppable, Let There Be Love, and Teri Meri Kahani. In 2021, she released Hindustani Way, a patriotic pop song composed and produced by A R Rahman, which served as the official cheer song for India at the Tokyo Olympics.
