Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) owner Vijay Mallya congratulated the new owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise after the biggest deal in IPL history. RCB franchise has been sold for a massive Rs 166.6 billion (around Rs 16,660 crore) to a high-profile consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, alongside The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone.

Mallya shared a message on X, recalling his early investment and the journey of the team. He ended the message saying 'RCB will always remain a part of my DNA'.

I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my…

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 26, 2026

Sharing the tweet on X, Mallya wrote, "I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Immensely gratifying to see my INR 450 crore investment grow to INR 16,500 crores. RCB will always remain a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including picking the young Virat Kohli, who is now amongst the best in the World. To all RCB fans who came on board during my stewardship and beyond, a grateful thank you, and please continue to support RCB, the Lion of Bengaluru. Namaskara."

Mallya's Rs 450 crore investment in 2008 was widely criticised, with many considering it expensive, at a time when the IPL was still struggling. But the decision paid off; his team's choice to select a young Virat Kohli, who was captain of the India U19 World Cup at the time, has contributed significantly to the team's ongoing appeal throughout the world. Kohli's subsequent success and enormous fan base helped solidify the team's reputation as a fan favourite.