PUMA on Wednesday refuted reports that cricketing superstar Virat Kohli, arguably the country’s biggest brand endorser, was switching allegiance from the country’s leading athleisure brand to Agilitas Sports Pvt Ltd, a company set up last year by Abhishek Ganguly, its former India MD.
Per CNBCTV18, the cricketing maestro is poised to transition away from PUMA India to a new role as the face of Agilitas Sports. Kohli is expected to not only endorse the brand but also hold a stake in the company, signaling a significant shift in his professional commitments, the business news channel further reported.
Commenting on the news floating around Kohli’s leaving the sportswear major, Karthik Balagopalan, managing director of PUMA India said, “PUMA’s relationship with Virat Kohli is long-standing and continues.”
For the record, Kohli’s association with PUMA began in 2017 with a landmark deal, then valued at a whopping Rs 110 cr, marking one of the most significant endorsements in Indian sports history. Under Kohli’s stewardship as brand ambassador, PUMA India soared to become the nation’s leading sports and athleisure brand, enjoying unprecedented growth and market dominance.
Refutations notwithstahnding, it is worth noting here that Kohli and Ganguly have fostered a positive working relationship over the last seven years. It was under Ganguly at the helm that the ace cricketer had signed on with PUMA India.
For the record, the founding team of Agilitas Sports comprises of Ganguly, Atul Bajaj, former executive director – Sales and Operations, PUMA India, and Amit Prabhu, former chief financial officer of PUMA India.
PUMA is the leading sportswear brand in India ahead of the likes of adidas and way ahead of Nike. Aside from Kohli, they also have on their roster Virat’s wife Anushka Sharma, KL Rahul, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Sunil Chhetri, and recently Harrdy Sandhu.
