Virat Kohli Backs Agilitas with ₹40 Crore Investment, Joins as Strategic Partner
Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has made a significant move in the business world by investing ₹40 crore in Agilitas Sports, a sportswear venture founded by former Puma India Managing Director Abhishek Ganguly. This marks the first tranche of a larger investment plan and signals Kohli’s deepening involvement in India’s fast-growing athleisure and sports equipment sector.
Ganguly and Kohli’s business relationship dates back to 2017 when Kohli became the face of Puma in India under a ₹110-crore contract. That deal was scheduled to run until 2025, but earlier this year, Kohli walked away from a renewal worth ₹300 crore, choosing instead to back Ganguly’s new venture—Agilitas.
Unlike his previous ambassadorial roles, Kohli will now hold a significant equity stake and have an active say in the company’s strategic direction. He has been issued approximately 3.6 lakh Class 2 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS), which will be mandatorily converted into equity in the future.
Agilitas is aiming to become a full-stack player in the sportswear industry—from manufacturing to retail. The company plans to fill capability gaps through acquisitions. It already owns Mochiko Shoes, a supplier to global brands like Adidas, Puma, Skechers, and Decathlon, among others. It also holds the licensing rights to sell Lotto products in India and beyond, and intends to launch at least three more brands, including Kohli’s own One8 label.
Sources say this initial investment is just the beginning, and Kohli is expected to inject more capital as the brand scales up. The backing of Kohli is also expected to drive brand value and increase Agilitas’ market valuation.
This marks another milestone in Kohli’s expanding startup portfolio, which includes stakes in companies like Digit Insurance, MPL, and fashion brand Wrogn. Agilitas itself has raised around ₹600 crore in under two years from investors including Spring Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, and fellow cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
Both Kohli and Agilitas declined to comment on the investment when contacted by Moneycontrol.
