Virat Kohli Ditches Puma for New Indian Startup Venture

Virat Kohli, India’s cricket superstar, has made a big business move! After eight years with global sportswear giant Puma, he’s breaking up with them to join forces with homegrown startup Agilitas Sports.

Virat:The Break-Up

Kohli and Puma had quite the relationship. Their deal was worth a whopping Rs 110 crore (that’s over $13 million!) and was one of cricket’s biggest endorsement deals ever. But all good things come to an end, right?

But what’s really surprising? Puma reportedly offered him Rs 300 crore (about $36 million) to stay for another eight years. But Kohli said “no thanks” and chose a different path!

So, What’s Next for Virat?

Instead of just being the face of another brand, Kohli is becoming a business owner! He’s investing his own money in Agilitas Sports and will help create products too. It’s not just about wearing the logo anymore – he wants to build something of his own.

Who’s Agilitas Sports?

Well, Agilitas is a new Indian sportswear company founded in 2023 by Abhishek Ganguly – who used to run Puma India! 

This startup isn’t playing small either. They’ve already:

• Raised Rs 600 crore (about $72 million) from investors
• Bought Mochiko Shoes, India’s largest sports footwear manufacturer
• Secured rights to sell the Italian brand Lotto in several countries

Kohli’s Big Dream: Taking One8 Global

Remember One8? That’s Kohli’s own athleisure brand that he started with Puma back in 2017. Now, he wants to make it huge – not just in India, but worldwide!

The plan might be to give One8 a fresh look and open its own stores, even in places like the US and UK. Kohli is following in the footsteps of tennis legend Roger Federer, who did something similar with Swiss brand On.

Why This Matters

Virat Kohli isn’t just switching sponsors – he’s changing how athletes do business in India! Instead of just being paid to wear a logo, he wants ownership and creative control.

It’s also a big moment for Indian sportswear. As one insider said, “India doesn’t have an aspirational sportswear brand” yet. With Kohli’s star power and Agilitas’s manufacturing muscle, they might just change that.

We’ll have to wait for the official announcement in the coming months, but one thing’s for sure – Kohli is playing a whole new game off the cricket field!

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