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From Ranji Trophy to RCB Chairman: Aryaman Birla's Cricket-to-Corporate Journey

Aryaman Vikram Birla has been appointed the new chairman of Royal Challengers Bengaluru following the acquisition of the franchise by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and Times Internet Limited for a record Rs 16,660 crore. Birla is a former first-class cricketer who played nine Ranji Trophy matches for Madhya Pradesh and was once bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. His cricket career was cut short in 2019 when he took an indefinite break due to severe anxiety related to the sport. He is now a director at the Aditya Birla Group and holds leadership roles across several of its businesses.

Key Points: Aryaman Birla Named RCB Chairman After Consortium Buys Franchise

  • Former MP Ranji cricketer turned chairman
  • Son of Aditya Birla Group chairperson
  • Part of consortium that bought RCB for Rs 16,660 crore
  • Bought by Rajasthan Royals in 2018 IPL auction
  • Holds MBA from Harvard Business School
3 min read

Played Ranji for MP, picked by RR in 2018, now owns an IPL franchise: Meet RCB's new chairman Aryaman Vikram Birla

Aryaman Vikram Birla, former MP cricketer & son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, becomes RCB chairman after a historic Rs 16,660 crore acquisition.

"He took an indefinite sabbatical from cricket, citing severe anxiety related to the sport. - Report"

New Delhi, March 25

Aryaman Vikram Birla will become the new chairman of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and Times Internet Limited acquired the defending Indian Premier League and Women's Premier League champions for Rs 16,660 crore.

Bolt Ventures (Bolt) and Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy (BXPE, Blackstone) are the other members of the consortium that have jointly bought the RCB, one of the eight original franchises of the IPL that was formed ahead of the inaugural edition in 2008.

Aryaman, the son of chairperson of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla, is a former cricketer who played for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket.

Aryaman enrolled himself for district trials in Madhya Pradesh in 2014. Prior to that, he had a three-month stint in England under former Middlesex cricketer Paul Weekes, playing for West Hampstead Cricket Club and the London Schools Cricket Association.

He spent four years in the junior circuit in Madhya Pradesh and also captained the MP U23 team, before being handed a Ranji Trophy debut in October 2017. The left-handed batter played nine first-class matches for Madhya Pradesh and scored 414 runs, including one century against Bengal at the Eden Gardens. He also scored 36 runs in four List-A matches.

He registered in the IPL 2018 mega auction and was bought by inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals for Rs 30 lakh. However, he did not play a single match for the franchise and was released ahead of the 2020 season.

Aryaman had been through a number of injury setbacks and, in 2019, took an "indefinite sabbatical from cricket", citing "severe anxiety related to the sport." He did not return to cricket and is currently the director of the Aditya Birla Group.

Aryaman, who holds an MBA with honours from Harvard Business School, a Master's degree in Global Finance from Bayes Business School, and a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, has held leadership roles across multiple businesses of the Aditya Birla Group, including fashion, paints, and real estate.

He serves on the board of the Group's apex body, Aditya Birla Management Corporation, as well as on the boards of several key Group companies, including Grasim Industries, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail (ABFRL), and the Group's digital-first fashion platform, TMRW.

He is the founder of Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality, the Group's fast-growing hospitality platform, and Aditya Birla Ventures, its venture capital arm focused on investing in high-growth start-ups across emerging sectors.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Interesting to see a former player take over. He's walked the path, faced the pressure, and understands the mental health challenges athletes face. That empathy could be valuable. Wishing him and RCB all the best!
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Priyanka N
Respect for his cricketing credentials, but let's be real. The Birla-Times consortium paid 16,660 crores! That's the real headline. Hope this massive investment translates into on-field success and not just business expansion. We fans want the trophy! 🏆
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Aman W
His story is very relatable for many aspiring cricketers in India. Works hard, gets to Ranji level, faces injuries and anxiety... it's a tough road. Glad he found success in another field and is now back in cricket in a big way. Life comes full circle.
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Karthik V
Harvard MBA, cricketer, and now chairman. The guy is seriously accomplished. Hope he brings some of that Birla business acumen to build a sustainable winning culture at RCB. We need stability and smart auctions, not just star power.
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Michael C
As an outsider following IPL, this is a fascinating shift. Moving from a player in the system to the owner of the most high-profile (and trophy-less) franchise. The pressure will be immense. His personal experience with anxiety might make him more supportive of players' mental well-being, which is crucial.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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