Funding Alert

Virat Kohli Invests ₹40 Crore in Agilitas, Strengthens Ties with Former Puma India Head

• ByStartupStory     |    June 28, 2025

Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli has made a significant investment of ₹40 crore in Agilitas Sports, the Bengaluru-based sportswear and equipment company founded by Abhishek Ganguly, former Managing Director of Puma India. This strategic move marks Kohli’s deepening involvement in the business side of sports as both an investor and an active stakeholder in brand building.

The investment is part of a larger funding round and is the first tranche of Kohli’s planned capital infusion into the company. He has been allotted approximately 3.6 lakh Class 2 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS), which will eventually convert into equity, cementing his ownership in the growing firm.

Ganguly and Kohli have a long-standing professional relationship. During his tenure at Puma, Ganguly was instrumental in bringing Kohli on board as a brand ambassador in a ₹110 crore deal in 2017. While a renewal worth ₹300 crore was in the works, Kohli instead chose to walk away and align himself with Ganguly’s new venture, Agilitas, bringing both capital and brand value to the table.

Agilitas Sports is on a mission to create a fully integrated sports ecosystem—from manufacturing to retail. In 2023, it acquired Mochiko Shoes, a leading footwear manufacturer for global brands such as Adidas, Puma, New Balance, Skechers, and Decathlon. It also secured licensing rights for Italian sportswear brand Lotto in India and select international markets. Going forward, the company aims to roll out at least three new brands, including Kohli’s own label, One8, positioning him as a key force in Agilitas’ growth trajectory.

Kohli’s involvement is not just financial—he is expected to contribute significantly to brand development and strategy. According to sources cited by Moneycontrol, his investment may increase in the coming months as part of a larger equity play, signaling strong confidence in Agilitas’ long-term vision.

With previous backers including Spring Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, and cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Agilitas has now raised close to ₹600 crore in under two years. Kohli’s addition to the cap table is likely to amplify the brand’s visibility and consumer appeal as it prepares for aggressive expansion in India’s booming sports and athleisure market.

This move also expands Kohli’s already impressive startup portfolio, which includes stakes in MPL, Digit Insurance, Wrogn, and several other high-growth ventures.

Follow Startup Story