Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has formally begun a new commercial phase by entering a strategic partnership with Agilitas Sports. The announcement follows the conclusion of his long-standing deal with Puma India and places him at the centre of a major homegrown sportswear venture.
Agilitas Sports is an Indian sportswear and athleisure company founded by Abhishek Ganguly, who previously led Puma’s business in India and Southeast Asia. The company has been steadily building a full-value-chain operation across footwear design, manufacturing, and retail. This includes the acquisition of Mochiko Shoes, one of India’s largest producers of sports footwear for global brands.
Kohli has joined Agilitas as an equity partner, marking a significant shift from traditional athlete-brand contracts. His involvement extends into product innovation, performance insights, creative direction, and the long-term positioning of the company’s performance category. As part of the partnership, Kohli has invested INR 40 crore into Agilitas through Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares. This represents roughly a 1.94 percent stake at the initial stage, with CEO Abhishek Ganguly confirming that Kohli will eventually hold a mid-single-digit minority position once the full transaction is completed.
The investment also begins a new chapter for One8, Kohli’s lifestyle-athleisure brand. One8 will now be housed under the Agilitas structure and scaled globally through the company’s manufacturing and design capabilities.
Speaking on the announcement, Kohli said “When the offer came through and he (Ganguly) made me understand the force behind it, the manufacturing capabilities, the expertise that he has, and the kind of people that were going to come on board, I thought this could become something big and of course, I wanted to be a part of it.”
“This has been designed by people of our own, made here. But, I think the foundation of this whole process is fulfilling your potential.”
Kohli’s move from Puma to Agilitas marks a pivotal moment for the Indian sportswear sector. It signals a shift toward athlete-led ownership at a time when India’s performance gear and athleisure categories are expanding rapidly. Agilitas aims to position itself as a strong challenger to established global players by leveraging a fully integrated supply chain and a performance-first design approach.
The agreement aligns with Kohli’s broader investment strategy. The cricketer has built an extensive entrepreneurial portfolio with stakes in Digit Insurance, Blue Tribe, Galactus Funware Technology, Universal SportsBiz, Nueva, and Chisel. His sporting investments include ownership of FC Goa in the Indian Super League and a partnership in Blue Rising, a team competing in the UIM E1 World Championship.
Kohli remains one of cricket’s most influential active players and continues to attract major commercial interest. India will resume its white-ball schedule in the coming months, and Kohli is expected to play a key role in the national team’s plans.
The Agilitas partnership establishes a long-term platform for the development of a modern Indian sportswear brand with global ambition and places Kohli at the heart of its growth journey.
