Cricket superstar Virat Kohli has made a fresh investment of Rs 40 crore in Agilitas, a fast-growing sportswear and equipment manufacturing company founded by Abhishek Ganguly, former Managing Director of Puma India, according to a report by Moneycontrol.
Ganguly had previously played a key role in onboarding Kohli as a brand ambassador for Puma India in 2017 with a deal reportedly worth Rs 110 crore, running through 2025. Despite Puma’s offer to renew the deal at Rs 300 crore, Kohli declined, choosing instead to align with Ganguly’s new venture, Agilitas.
Unlike conventional endorsements, Kohli’s role in Agilitas involves strategic ownership and business participation, making him a key part of the company’s growth vision.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Agilitas is positioning itself as an end-to-end sports ecosystem, from manufacturing to retail. As part of its aggressive expansion, the company acquired Mochiko Shoes in 2023—a major footwear manufacturer that supplies brands like Adidas, Puma, Skechers, New Balance, Reebok, Asics, Crocs, Decathlon, Clarks, and US Polo.
Agilitas also secured licensing rights for Lotto, enabling the brand to distribute Lotto-branded footwear in India and select international markets. Furthermore, the company plans to launch at least three new brands, including One8, Kohli’s signature line, signaling his central role in brand building and product strategy.
The Rs 40 crore investment has earned Kohli approximately 3.6 lakh Class 2 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS). These will convert automatically into equity shares later, giving him ownership and decision-making influence. This move is part of a larger planned investment, according to reports.
In less than two years, Agilitas has raised nearly Rs 600 crore, attracting top-tier investors such as Spring Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, and former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
This venture adds to Virat Kohli’s growing startup investments, which already include:
Digit Insurance
Mobile Premier League (MPL)
Wrogn
Kohli’s shift from endorsements to equity-backed partnerships reflects his evolving strategy as a brand and business leader.
This is the "Agilitas" that has been in the news most recently, particularly in India.
Agilitas Sports Private Limited is a relatively new Indian company founded in February 2023 and based in Bengaluru. It's building a comprehensive ecosystem in the sports, casual, and athletic footwear and apparel sector. The company aims to be an end-to-end player, encompassing manufacturing, product development, retail, and brand building.
Founders and Leadership: Agilitas was founded by a team of experienced professionals from the sportswear industry:
Abhishek Ganguly: Co-Founder & CEO (former Managing Director of Puma India and South-East Asia)
Amit Prabhu: Co-Founder & CFO
Atul Bajaj: Co-Founder & COO
Business Model and Strategy: Agilitas's strategy involves:
Manufacturing: A key part of their strategy is to strengthen India's sports footwear manufacturing capabilities. They started by acquiring Mochiko Shoes Pvt. Ltd. (in 2023), which is one of India's largest sports footwear manufacturers and a supplier to major global brands like Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and Skechers.
Brand Building: They are focused on launching new sportswear brands, both through acquisitions and partnerships with global and local brands.
Licensing: They secured the long-term exclusive license for Lotto (the Italian sports brand) for India, South Asia, and Australia. This gives them the rights to design, manufacture, and sell Lotto-branded footwear, apparel, accessories, and sports equipment in these markets.
Consumer Focus: Agilitas aims to cater to the growing demand for sports and athleisure wear in India, which is driven by increasing disposable incomes and a rising health-conscious lifestyle. They plan to roll out at least three new brands, potentially including a brand associated with Virat Kohli (like his 'One8' label).
Funding and Valuation: Agilitas has quickly attracted significant investor interest:
As of March 2025, Agilitas has raised a total funding of $70.7 million over 4 rounds.
Key institutional investors include Nexus Venture Partners, Convergent Finance LLP, and Spring Marketing Capital.
The company's current valuation is reported to be around ₹2,120 crore (approximately $254 million).
Virat Kohli's Investment (June 2025): In a major development, Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli has invested ₹40 crore (approximately $4.8 million) in Agilitas. This is more than just an endorsement deal; Kohli is taking a stake in the company and is expected to play an active role in its growth and business decisions, leveraging his prior relationship with Abhishek Ganguly from their time at Puma. This investment is part of a larger planned investment by Kohli into Agilitas.
Strategic Vision: Agilitas's ambition is to build an Indian sportswear company that can compete on a global scale, capitalizing on the strong correlation between economic development and the growth of sports and fitness culture in a country.
Virat Kohli’s Rs 40 crore investment in Agilitas marks a strategic shift in his approach to brand partnerships. Departing from a lucrative endorsement deal with Puma, Kohli has chosen to take on a more involved role in shaping Agilitas alongside founder Abhishek Ganguly.
The Bengaluru-based startup is ambitiously building a comprehensive sportswear ecosystem, having already acquired major manufacturing assets like Mochiko Shoes and secured rights to global brands like Lotto.
Kohli’s influence will be pivotal, especially with plans to launch new brands, including his own label, One8. His stake—acquired through compulsorily convertible preference shares—gives him not just financial interest but decision-making authority in the company.
Agilitas’ rapid fundraising success, with backing from prominent investors including Yuvraj Singh, further underlines its potential in India’s growing athleisure and sports market. For Kohli, this investment is another smart addition to a diversified startup portfolio that reflects his business acumen beyond cricket.