Vijay Mallya reflected on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's sale, congratulating new owners led by Aditya Birla Group. He recalled buying the team in 2008 for ₹450 crore, once mocked as a vanity project, now valued at $1.78 billion. Mallya highlighted building the brand and signing Virat Kohli, whose rise symbolized the franchise’s growth and global appeal.

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner Vijay Mallya shared a heartfelt message on X after the franchise was sold to a new consortium, reflecting on the journey of the team and the massive rise in its valuation since he first bought it in the inaugural IPL auction.

Mallya congratulated the new owners of RCB and wished them success, describing the franchise as the most valuable in the Indian Premier League. The post came soon after news emerged that the Bengaluru-based team had been sold to a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group along with partners including the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone in a deal valued at about $1.78 billion (around ₹16,600–16,700 crore).

In his message, Mallya looked back at the time he purchased the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crore, recalling how many people mocked the investment and called it a vanity project. He said that behind what critics described as his “madnesses” was a clear intention to build the Royal Challenge brand, which eventually led to naming the team Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Mallya added that it was immensely gratifying to see how much the franchise had grown in value over the years, noting that the team’s valuation had now climbed dramatically compared to the original purchase price. The franchise was one of the original eight IPL teams and has seen a significant surge in brand value and commercial appeal as the league expanded globally.