Ananya Birla plays cricket in RCB jersey with Kevin Pietersen

Ananya Birla grabbed attention on social media after being spotted while playing cricket along with the former England star, Kevin Pietersen, as she was wearing a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) jersey. The moment showed a different side of Ananya, who found herself in the spotlight following the Birla Group-led acquisition of the franchise.  

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their second successive title of the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the 2026 season as they became the third franchise after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) to achieve the record. The Rajat Patidar-led side won the trophy by beating the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final. 

Ananya Birla turns up in RCB jersey alongside Kevin Pietersen for new shooting

Pietersen is no stranger to the Bengaluru side, having represented the team during the early years of the IPL. The former England captain was widely renowned for his aggressive batting performance and entertainment in the field. His cricket association with Ananya made for a crossover between the business and the sporting world.

Birla caught the attention of the fans. The appearance brought together two familiar faces from the worlds of business and cricket, with her sporting the franchise’s iconic red colours. The moment gathered massive interest, particularly after the Birla Group-led acquisition of the IPL franchise brought the Birla family closer.

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Pietersen’s presence added another layer of cricketing interest to the shoot. While further details of the shoot may come later, the pairing has offered RCB followers a glimpse of the team’s growing presence beyond the cricketing field.

What is the connection between Ananya Birla and RCB? The Birla family’s link to the franchise

Ananya is connected to the Bengaluru side through her family’s involvement in the consortium that earned the franchise. The Aditya Birla Group-led side acquired 100% of the Rajat Patidar-led side for a price of $1.78 billion (nearly 16700 crore), a deal which was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Ananya is the eldest daughter of the industrialist, Kumar Mangalam Birla. Her brother, Aryaman Vikram Birla, serves as the chairman of the acquiring consortium.

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During the final of the IPL 2026 between Bengaluru and Gujarat, Ananya had a unique family crossover as her family’s consortium owned RCB, while Birla Estates served as a sponsor for the Gujarat Titans (GT) side.