Stephen Schwarzman, who serves as chairman and co-founder, noted that he wore the RCB jersey for the company’s weekly ‘BXTV’ meeting following the franchise’s impressive IPL performance, as he mentioned in a LinkedIn post.
He credited the idea to Amit Dixit, the Head of Asia for Blackstone Private Equity.
“Had to sport a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) jersey on our internal weekly ‘BXTV’ meeting for Blackstone employees after the team just won back-to-back IPL titles (thanks, Amit Dixit),” Schwarzman shared.
He also posted a picture of himself in the
RCB jersey during the internal gathering, stating, “The firm is proud to invest in the franchise as part of our broader conviction in India.”
In March, Blackstone, in partnership with Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, and Bolt Ventures, finalized a deal to acquire 100% ownership of RCB from United Spirits Limited (USL). The transaction is valued at approximately ₹16,660 crore (around $1.78 billion), making it one of the largest sports franchise deals in India.
Viral Patel, CEO of Blackstone, expressed enthusiasm about investing in RCB, highlighting its strength and popularity, not only in India but also internationally.
“We are thrilled to invest in RCB, enhancing Blackstone’s long-standing commitment to India. RCB stands out as one of the most well-known sports franchises globally, with a strong brand, a devoted fan base, and multiple growth opportunities,” he stated.
He added, “Together with our partners, we look forward to supporting the franchise’s enduring legacy and ongoing success.”
RCB secured their second IPL title this year, triumphing over the Gujarat Titans in the final. They successfully chased a target of 156 runs after restricting the Gujarat Titans to 155/8 in their allotted overs. Their first IPL championship came in 2025, after a long wait of 18 years.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Jun 4, 2026 10:29 AM IST
