Amid major changes in ownership at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one name that has quickly grabbed attention ahead of IPL 2026 is Ananya Birla. The entrepreneur and singer is the sister of newly appointed RCB chairman Aryaman Vikram Birla and has become a talking point among fans following the franchise’s high-profile takeover.

With the Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquiring RCB in a massive $1.78 billion (around ₹16,700 crore) deal, the Birla family’s entry into IPL ownership has brought fresh spotlight not just on Aryaman, but also on Ananya and her growing presence around the team.

A new era begins at RCB with Birla family involvement

The acquisition of RCB marks a significant shift in the franchise’s journey, with ownership moving into the hands of one of India’s biggest business houses led by Kumar Mangalam Birla. The deal includes both the men’s IPL team and the Women’s Premier League side, highlighting the expanding business scope of franchise cricket.

As Aryaman steps in as chairman, the involvement of the Birla family has added a new layer of interest around RCB, with fans closely watching the off-field developments as much as the on-field action.

Who is Ananya Birla?

Ananya Birla, born in 1994 in Mumbai, is a well-known entrepreneur, singer, and philanthropist. She completed her schooling at the American School of Bombay before pursuing economics and management at the University of Oxford.

Despite coming from one of India’s most influential business families, Ananya carved her own path early on, building a strong identity as an independent businesswoman and creative professional.

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Entrepreneurial journey and business ventures

Ananya’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 17 when she founded Svatantra Microfin, a company focused on providing financial support to rural women. The initiative aimed at promoting financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities.

Over the years, she has expanded her business footprint with ventures like Ikai Asai, a luxury e-commerce platform. In addition, she holds positions on the boards of major companies such as Grasim Industries and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, showcasing her strong presence in the corporate world.

Her estimated net worth, ranging between ₹1,000 crore and ₹1,770 crore, reflects her success across multiple industries.

A global music career and mental health advocacy

Apart from business, Ananya has made a name for herself in the global music industry. She became the first Indian artist to achieve platinum status for an English-language single, with her songs garnering millions of streams worldwide.

She is also actively involved in mental health awareness through the Mpower initiative, advocating for open conversations and support systems around mental well-being. This aspect of her work has added depth to her public image beyond business and entertainment.

Growing presence around RCB sparks fan interest

Although Ananya is not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she has been named a principal partner of the franchise. Her association, combined with her brother’s leadership role, has brought her into the IPL spotlight.

Recently, she was seen at an IPL 2026 promotional event where Shubman Gill gifted her a signed jersey, a moment that quickly went viral on social media and sparked widespread discussion among fans.

Many have even compared her potential visibility with other prominent faces associated with IPL teams, raising curiosity about whether she will become a regular presence supporting RCB in the stands.

Also READ: RCB coach shares fresh update on Josh Hazlewood after his arrival at IPL 2026 camp

Mumbai: A month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) could try certain new, speedier and easier tests, there are indications that the BMC may conduct a pilot project to check the efficacy of one of these recommendations: tongue swabs.Tongue swabs entail using a swab to collect saliva/fluid from the tongue. Contrast this with the usual TB test that entails coughing out mucus (sputum) from deep inside the lungs. “Collecting tongue swabs would be easier for some patients, especially children,” said BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah.While it’s early days yet for such a pilot project, Dr Shah said the BMC has always been interested in newer methods to improve TB detection. A few years back, the BMC was the first civic corporation to carry out a pilot project to check the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting TB in X-ray scans.Mumbai is one of the high-density TB hubs in the world, with the emergence of extremely difficult-to-treat drug-resistance cases emerging in the city in 2011-12. The National TB programme rolled out a special TB plan for Mumbai, fast-tracking new tests and medicines. While 65,435 TB cases were registered in Mumbai in 2022, the numbers dropped to 54,390 TB patients; 8% of them had drug-resistant TB.On Feb 26, the WHO recommended new near-point-of-care (NPOC) molecular tests for the diagnosis of TB; easy-to-collect tongue swab samples to simplify and expand access to testing.Canada-based epidemiologist and public health expert Dr Madhukar Pai told TOI: “This new WHO policy is a big deal in the world of TB. For the first time, it has approved a near point-of-care molecular test that can be used at the primary care level, and also with a tongue swab since many people are unable to produce a sputum.”Dr Pai said this new test is available via Global Drug Facility at $3.5 per test and is “far more affordable than any molecular test so far”. He added that two companies, Huwel and Molbio from India, have products that fit into this category.When contacted, Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics president Shiva Sriram said his company’s technology, the Truenat platform, which is deployed in primary health centres across the country, is already designed to accommodate multiple sample types, including tongue swabs.However, he said tongue swab-based testing is still an emerging approach with limited field data. “As programmatic adoption increases, it is expected to generate stronger evidence and inform scaled implementation,” he said.

RCB player Virat Kohli drops a catch (ANI Photo)

Virat Kohli dropped a straightforward catch during the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, but later made amends by taking the same batter’s catch.The drop came in the 18th over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar when SRH batter Aniket Verma mistimed a shot. Kohli ran in from long-on but the ball slipped through his hands and brushed his thigh before falling. Kohli appeared surprised, while in the stands, actor and Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma reacted with laughter. Kohli later completed a catch to dismiss Aniket.In the match, SRH stand-in captain Ishan Kishan scored 80 off 38 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 201 for nine. His innings included eight fours and five sixes, and he shared a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Heinrich Klaasen, who made 31.