Icons like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli have become some of the biggest brands in sports, transcending the world of cricket. This success is due to a combination of factors, with the most significant being their status as some of the greatest cricketers of their generation. However, despite their fame and wealth, they are not the richest cricketers in the world—or even in India.
That distinction belongs to Aryaman Birla, the son of billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla. In 2023, Aryaman was appointed as a director at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL). He also serves on the boards of Aditya Birla Management Corporation and Grasim Industries, and is widely seen as the future of the conglomerate. Before venturing into business, Aryaman pursued a career in cricket and even scored a first-class century.
Ranji Trophy career
Born in July 1997 in Mumbai, Aryaman Birla moved to Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, where the headquarters of the Aditya Birla Group’s cement division is located. His move, however, was driven by a desire to compete in the state’s junior cricket circuit and eventually rise through the ranks. Aryaman’s first senior-level match came in the Ranji Trophy for Madhya Pradesh against Odisha in November 2017. In his debut innings, he shared a 72-run opening partnership with Rajat Patidar, who scored 123. However, Aryaman managed scores of 16 off 67 balls and six off 27 in that match.
He made a significant impact almost exactly a year later at Eden Gardens against Bengal. With Manoj Tiwary’s unbeaten double century helping Bengal declare at 510/9, MP were forced to follow on after being all out for 335. Aryaman responded with an unbeaten 103 off 189 balls, playing a crucial role in forcing a draw.
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Reflecting on his growth as a cricketer, Aryaman shared that he began to feel more comfortable as people started recognizing him for his skills rather than his family name. “Performances are the best way of earning trust and respect, so when I started scoring runs, people started seeing me in a different light,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “When I first came to MP, I was known more by my last name. I kept hearing ‘Birla’s son, Birla’s grandson.’ But through my performances, I changed perceptions, they started seeing me differently.”
“That’s been my biggest achievement so far. Recently someone came and asked me ‘you’re so seedha saadha (simple and straightforward), we didn’t even know you’re from the Birla family.’ That to me was a sign of change.”
IPL
His performances in both the junior and senior circuits earned Aryaman Birla an IPL contract with the Rajasthan Royals at the 2018 auction. He was part of the squad for two seasons but never managed to break into the first team. Injuries then sidelined him, and by January 2019, Birla was unable to play at all. Rajasthan Royals eventually released him in November of that year. In December 2019, Birla announced an “indefinite sabbatical from cricket.”
“I’ve felt trapped. I’ve pushed myself through all the distress so far, but now I feel the need to put my mental health and wellbeing above all else,” he wrote on Instagram. “We all have our own journeys and I want to take this time to understand myself better, open my mind to new and varied perspectives and seek purpose in my findings.”
Birla subsequently entered his family’s business and has found success there. While his net worth isn’t publicly available, it is estimated to be around INR 70,000 crore.
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