Indian cricketers have always been magnates in terms of their entertainment and brand value, perhaps more so ever since the team’s epic triumph in the 1983 World Cup. Ever since then, cricket has bound the nation together and has been a tradition in Indian households.
Today, many view cricket as a religion in India and the craziest fan base on Earth passes its due diligence with flying colors thanks to the Godly status that the fans bestow upon their favorite cricketers. Thanks to this fanfare, the nation has been blessed with some iconic cricketers who have attained legendary status not just in Indian cricket but also on a global level.
A name at the pinnacle of that list is Virat Kohli. An epitome of dedication and hard work, of unbridled passion and devilish aggression, and of a man who would stop at nothing short of a fight.
Virat Kohli has not just turned into a legendary cricketer, but has also become a beacon of hope for the public. His suave and charm have endeared him to the Indian diaspora, making him a very prominent figure in Indian and global sporting circles.
VIRAT KOHLI: FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
For those who’ve been living under a rock, Virat Kohli’s name first hit the headlines when he captained the Indian U-19 side to a historic World Cup win. It fast tracked him into the limelight and paved the way for his inclusion into the senior team; and since then, runs have flowed, records have tumbled, and he has gone on to win a World Cup and Champions Trophy with India.
His exploits aren’t just restricted to international cricket, with Kohli being the much vaunted face of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise in the Indian Premier League, cricket’s answer to the cash-rich European and American sporting leagues. Thanks to Kohli’s persona and his greatness with willow in hand, RCB has one of the most passionate fan bases behind them in world cricket.
VIRAT KOHLI FACTFILEDate of Birth 5 November 1998 Birthplace Delhi Residence Mumbai Nickname Cheeku, King Kohli, Virat Height 5’ 9” (175 cm) Weight 69kg Occupation Cricketer, Entrepreneur Teams Represented India, Delhi, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, North Zone, India Red, India U19, India A
Rankings Test: 9
ODI: 3
T20I: 46Honours Arjuna Award (2013); Padma Shri (2017) – India’s fourth highest civilian honor; Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2018) – India’s highest sporting honor Net Worth ₹1,050 crores (US$127 million) Earnings/year US$30 million Spouse Anushka Sharma (m.2016) Children Vamika (b.2021), Akaay (b.2024)
His career statistics and growth since his debut for India are astronomical, and with it, so is his public appeal and marketability. Today, Kohli is the face of prominent sporting and fashion brands as well as his own business ventures. Let’s take a look at what makes Virat Kohli as successful a man off the cricket pitch as he is on it.
CAREER IN NUMBERS
There’s a reason why Kohli is called a lean, mean, run machine. One look at his feats on a cricket pitch and it’s easy to understand why Virat has been the face of world cricket for the better part of the last decade. Format Matches Innings Runs Average 50s 100s Highest Test 113 191 8,848 49.15 29 30 254* ODI 292 280 13,848 58.67 72 50 183 T20I 117 109 4,037 51.75 37 1 122* IPL 252 244 8,004 38.67 55 8 113 FC 145 239 11,097 50.21 38 36 254*
From big hundreds to match-winning knocks to becoming a colossus of run chases to being the first man to average 50+ in all three formats, Virat has done it all and more in the gentleman’s game. He is also one of only three players to have played more than 100 games in all formats.
HONOURS & ACCOLADES
- ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade: 2011-2020
- ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: 2011-2020
- ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade: 2011-2020
- ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Decade: 2011-2020
- ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Decade: 2011-2020
- ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year: 2017, 2018
- ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2012, 2017, 2018, 2023
- ICC Test Player of the Year: 2018
- ICC ODI Team of the Year: 2012, 2014, 2016-2019 (captain), 2023
- ICC Test Team of the Year: 2017-2019 (captain)
- ICC T20I Team of the Year: 2022
- GQ Sportsman of the Year: 2013
- IPL Orange Cap: 2016, 2024
Virat’s aggressive demeanor is also evident in the way he conducts himself on a cricket field. Ready for any battle, the man from Delhi wears his heart-on-his-sleeve and is not ready to give a quarter to the opposition. At 35, many would look to the skies and see the stars align on a glittering career, but every time Kohli walks onto a cricket field, he plays with the intensity and desire of a person who is playing his first game. Add to it his ability to rile fans up and Kohli is one of the very few cricketers who can bring unbridled energy and passion on the field.
KING KOHLI: THE MONEY-MAKING MACHINE
ON-FIELD EARNINGS
From a portly young boy from India’s capital city Delhi, Virat Kohli has turned into arguably the best cricketer in the world, and it’s down to his consistent performances for club and country that have fetched him the big bucks.
In the 2020 release of the World’s Highest Paid Athletes by Forbes, Kohli held the 66th spot with total earnings of US$26 million in 2019-20 which made him the only cricketer to make the top-100.
Although his brand endorsements and businesses form the lion’s share of his earnings, Virat is still by far the highest-paid player in the gentleman’s game.
- As per his annual contract with the Board of Control for Cricket India, the governing body for Indian cricket, Virat is among the four top-bracket earners with an annual sum of ₹7 crore.
- He also earns ₹15.25 crore from his IPL contract and gains close to a million dollars based on other prize money and winnings, respectively.
- All things considered, Kohli’s on-field earnings add up to nearly US$ 3 million.
BRAND APPEAL: THE FACE OF CRICKET
Virat Kohli’s public appeal increased post the 2011 World Cup which saw him take over the mantle of becoming the next big thing in Indian and World Cricket. Then, as a hot-headed individual with a penchant for quarrels, his brash and competitive nature on the pitch combined with his suave looks and fun attitude off it complimented his image as the face of the new generation.
A chance to capitalize on the two materialized in 2009. Kohli, fresh off his heroics in the U-19 World Cup, met with Bunty Sajdeh, the founder of Cornerstone Sports Management Company. Bunty soon became Kohli’s super-agent, and would go on to put him on the map with multi-million dollar endorsement deals.
He started with clothing brand Flying Machine and Cinthol, an Indian cosmetic chain. He was not the first Indian cricketer to be on the face of significant advertisements, but what truly made him unique was his flair and outspoken nature. Lucky for him, that is precisely the kind of personality that brands were looking for.
DEAL WITH PUMA
In 2014, Virat Kohli was named the second-most marketable athlete in the world by prominent UK-based sportsbiz magazine, SportsPro, only behind Neymar Jr.
His star was on the rise, but to firmly establish his status among the most marketable athletes, it was essential for him to not just get a deal with the big sporting brands, but also a signature line only matched by that of Nike (with Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo among others) and Adidas (with Lionel Messi).
From 2013, Kohli endorsed Adidas until his contract expired in 2016. Sajdeh sought opportunities to discuss terms of a new deal with the Adidas representatives. But when things weren’t going according to plan, he quickly sought out other options. This is when Adidas’ perceived rival Puma came in and gave Sajdeh a way out by agreeing to a signature line starring Virat, and thus was born the brand line One8 named after the number Virat dons on all his sporting jerseys.
One8 has its collection of sneakers and footwear, athleisure wear, fragrances and many more. It contributes a lot towards not only escalating Puma and Kohli’s brand appeal in India but also going on to fill the coffers profusely. The deal with Puma escalated Kohli into the global sports and fashion icon that he is today. Thanks to his efforts, Kohli’s association with the prancing cat fetches him a cool ₹110 crores a year.
KOHLI’S ENDORSEMENTS
Owing to his growing public persona and larger-than-life status, Kohli has and continues to adorn screens with advertisements of many renowned brands, both Indian and international.
His earnings from endorsements cover about 92% of his total earnings (US$24 million) which is among the highest in the world in terms of the share of endorsement revenues for sportspersons.
The most standout commercial partnerships among his ensemble include the aforementioned Puma (including his trademark brand One8), Tissot, Audi, Uber, Himalaya Men Body and Facial Care Products, Phillips facial care, Muve Acoustics and Wrogn.
There are many other brands in addition to the ones mentioned above that form a part of Kohli’s burgeoning endorsement portfolio.
- Manyavar
- Digit Insurance
- Myntra
- Shyam Steel
- Too Yumm
- Toothsi
- American Tourister
- MRF
- Valvoline Lubricants
- Asian Paints
- Blue Star
- Boost
- Colgate Toothpaste
- Mobile Premier League
- Herbalife Nutrition
- O’cean Beverages
Currently, it’s reported that Kohli charges a whopping ₹7.5-10 crore per endorsement, but it hasn’t stopped brands from lining up in droves at Kohli’s doorstep.
PERSONAL VENTURES AND INVESTMENTS
Kohli is not a person who just keeps all his money under his carpet. Following his on-field exploits for club and country, King Kohli has now stepped into an all-new pitch of entrepreneurship where he is hitting it off the ground as he does on the pitch. The Indian cricketer’s net worth is currently valued at a staggering ₹1,050 crore ($127 million) and it’s thanks to some savvy commercial investments that he has made.
Virat has cultivated a unique stable of business ventures ranging from restaurants to investments in teams in other Indian sports leagues. Virat’s first-entry into ownership came when he took up a minority stake in FC Goa ahead of the inaugural Indian Super League season, India’s top-flight football competition, in 2014.
He became the co-owner of International Premier Tennis League team UAE Royals on September 10, 2015, which had famous players like record Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Martina Hingis and Caroline Wozniacki on their roster.
Kohli’s exuberance and attitude has endeared him to the youth and made him a part of pop culture. This has helped Virat to put his name to back many successful businesses. Another vital component of Virat’s successes on the commercial front is also his wife, Anushka Sharma, a successful Bollywood film actress and producer.
The couple got married in 2016 and have a daughter and son. Virat partners Anushka as a stakeholder in her production house “Clean Slate Films” which has delivered critically-acclaimed films in the Indian cinematic landscape. She has also been lauded as being an important part of Virat’s personal and professional ventures and sees him as an inextricable part of her entrepreneurial instincts as well. The duo co-own NUEVA, a high-end restaurant operating in multiple cities including Virat’s hometown Delhi, the capital city of India. Along with the above ventures, Kohli has also invested in a slew of companies thus widening his investment footprint.
- Digit Insurance: Kohli, along with his spouse, invested a reported sum of ₹2.2 crore in Digit Insurance, an online insurance aggregator which increased the company’s valuation manifold, making it an astute purchase by the Delhi southpaw.
- Mobile Premier League: A key component of Virat’s portfolio is his investment in the parent company of the very successful mobile gaming app, Mobile Premier League. In 2019, the cricketer invested an undisclosed sum in the company whose valuation now stands at over $2 billion.
- Chisel Fitness: One of Kohli’s most charismatic traits is his unhinged desire to be the fittest person on a cricket field. The man looks as fit as a fiddle even at 35 and a lot of it comes down to his incredible work ethic to be at the top of his game. Staying true to the trait, Kohli (reportedly) invested ₹90 crore in Chisel Fitness, a company looking to further the fitness revolution in the country by building gyms and training centers.
- Hyperice: This company provides wellness products and services to people and is another company that Kohli has invested in.
- Blue Tribe: The company offers plant-based meat alternatives to promote healthy eating and nutrition. Virat and Anushka, who are reportedly vegans, have invested in this organization to scale up their business.
- New Era: Virat partnered up with upcoming cap and headgear company New Era to create his own collection of fancy caps and accessories with the company.
- Team Blue Rising: The latest investment by Kohli, Team Blue Rising participates in the E1 World Racing Championships which consists of ‘all-electric’ boats that compete for the World title in a competition that promotes innovation and sustainability.
LIVING LIFE ‘KING’ SIZE: HOUSES AND CARS
Virat has also put his money into living the good life with a slew of big houses to live in. The flamboyant Delhiite owns a property in Gurugram worth ₹80 crore and a plush apartment in Mumbai worth ₹34 crore. In 2022, as part of his partnership with Avas Living, a company involved in building interior spaces, Kohli purchased an 8-acre farmhouse in Alibaug, Maharashtra, worth ₹19 crore.
Kohli also owns a host of cars with a Lamborghini Huracan, an Audi A8L QW12 Quattro, an Audi R8 V10, an Audi R8 LMX Limited Edition, a Bentley Continental GT Mulliner, and a Bentley Flying Spur forming part of his enviable collection.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Another integral part of Virat’s ascendancy to success is his massive social media following. Kohli is now the third-most followed athlete in the world with a total of 381 million followers, only behind legendary footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is also the most followed Indian, Asian and cricketer (by light years) on Instagram with a whopping 269 million followers, more than other global stars like Neymar Jr and LeBron James.
As a result, Kohli’s massive social media following brings brand attention in their droves and Kohli, like his batting, doesn’t miss out on any opportunities of maximization that come his way.
Kohli’s social media presence makes him the face of many promotional activities in global cricket. Very recently, Virat was included as the promotional face of the Los Angeles Olympic Committee in their proposal to include cricket in the 2028 LA Olympics.
(Credit: @CricCrazyJohns & @Olympics [X})
The director of the LA Olympic Committee mentioned It is widely hoped that Kohli would be fit enough to participate and promote cricket should it be included in the planet’s biggest sporting event.
LA Sports Director on King Kohli:
Virat Kohli is one of the main reasons behind Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic. pic.twitter.com/upCYsQsI2a — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2023
Kohli’s popularity also soars with his frequent interactions and goodwill with other sporting superstars. One such instance was when German footballing legend Thomas Muller wished Kohli and the Indian team luck ahead of the 2019 World Cup (the less said about it the better) which resulted in a cordial exchange between the two sporting greats.
Thank you Thomas! 😊 https://t.co/vapwNrn5A8 — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 4, 2019
Thanks to his association with the UAE Royals in 2015, he is good friends with Djokovic, with the record Grand Slam winner posting a message of congratulations to Kohli when he brought up his record-breaking 50th century in ODI cricket in the 2023 Cricket World Cup semifinal.
Congratulations @imVkohli 🎊 Legendary https://t.co/3TgMXkbWcx — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 15, 2023
According to estimates, Kohli charges a sum of ₹7-10 crore for an Instagram post making him the 11th highest-paid person on the popular social media platform in the world.
Leading the fortunes of a cricket-crazy nation and being a great ambassador for the youth and the sport, Virat has combined his incredible sporting attributes with astute choices in business. He is already ahead of his sporting peers and at the age of 35, shows no signs of slowing down in becoming one of the world’s most successful sports brands.
Kohli’s personality and his passionate demeanor marks him as not just a stalwart of Indian cricket, but also as the face of modern India that is ready to give a fight and not yield at anything. The only man with 50 centuries in ODIs and the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals has marked himself as a Goliath of modern cricket and sent records tumbling in a glittering career, with his choices off the pitch being the same as his choices with the bat, smashed out of the park with clean timing.
