Sports Beyond Championships

The stadium erupted with cheers, and so did an online viewing audience of over 500 million cricket lovers. On 31 May 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru accomplished a much-anticipated feat – winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second year in a row. The win bodes well for Aditya Birla Group because the Group now has part ownership of the high performing team led by cricket superstar Virat Kohli.

In March 2026, Aditya Birla Group joined hands with three other partners – The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone – to form a consortium to acquire 100% of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for about $1.78 billion. At that time, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, had said “Over the past 2 decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy.”

Extraordinary is an apt term. IPL viewership crossed 1.1 billion viewers this year, putting it in the league of FIFA World Cup and the Cricket World Cup in terms of reach. By the time IPL 2027 rolls around, the Group will officially be part owner, with Aryaman Birla slated to be Chairman of the consortium.   
 

Supporting grassroots talent

While premier leagues catch the eye and the headlines, the Group is a supporter of sports across the spectrum. This year Aditya Birla Group is the official title sponsor for 2026 edition of the Madhya Pradesh League T20, held under the aegis of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, which kicked off on 3 June 2026. The tournament, which is growing in scale, now hosts 10 men’s teams and 5 women’s teams, which is aligned with its aim to provide a platform for young talent across the state.

Cricket is a favourite even at the Group’s townships, with its own internal league called Aditya Premier League. This year it got a welcome addition with the launch of the Aditya Women’s Premier League. Four women’s cricket teams, comprising Hindalco employees and women from the township stepped onto the pitch. 
 

Shooting stars

While cricket may be close to the heart, the Group’s sporting interests go beyond cricket. In 2019, it joined hands with the Odisha government and India’s ace shooter Gagan Narang to establish the Aditya Birla Gagan Narang Shooting High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. With 22 shooting lanes, including 10 electronic ones, the centre offers opportunities to talent from India’s eastern region to hone their shooting skills. The HPC can train up to 60 shooters a day, offering both technical skilling and the mental conditioning needed to become a top shooter at the state, national or international level. 
 

Olympian support

Supporting the nation’s sports talent has been a long-running theme for the Group. Aditya Birla Capital has supported the aspirations of 30 athletes, not just with scholarships but also training gear and access to physiotherapy, sports medicine, nutrition and overall health care.

This cohort went on to win 100 national medals and 34 international medals with 6 athletes representing India in Tokyo Olympics 2020. The company was also a key sponsor of the Indian team to the Paris Olympics in 2024. 
 

Sports for good

The impact of sports extends far beyond the arena or stadium. It promotes wellbeing, supports youth development, advances inclusion and health, and creates opportunities for community and economic empowerment. Aditya Birla Group has long believed in the power of sport as a force for good and continues to support it as a catalyst for positive change.