Royal Challengers Bengaluru's valuation jumped 73.7% to $1.8B following the Blackstone/Aditya Birla consortium acquisition, signaling institutional capital's aggressive push into Indian cricket franchises. The jump reflects the IPL's media rights reset—the 2022-2027 cycle generated $6.2B total, nearly 5x the prior deal—and Bengaluru's status as one of the league's marquee metro markets with strong ownership pedigree under United Spirits. The valuation establishes RCB at the upper tier of IPL franchises, ahead of most peers but trailing the Mumbai Indians ($2B+) and Delhi Capitals ($1.9B). For investors tracking sports PE in emerging markets, this signals the IPL's transition from family-office dominance to institutional portfolio plays. Blackstone's entry validates a trend: Indian cricket franchises are now competing for global capital on the same basis as NFL/NBA teams.