He is just second to the king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan in terms of brand endorsements at Rs 606 cr. Virat Kohli at such a young age when he should be watching movies with friends or woo a girl, he has become a global name, and sells at a premium, such is his reputation. He is currently endorsing approximately 20 leading brands in the country. Lately he is guilty of strike a dream deal with a leading footwear brand, Puma, it is a Rs 100 cr deal, OMG! With this he becomes the first sportsperson to sign a Rs 100-crore endorsement deal with a single brand. He breaks records at a premium setting new benchmarks. To be precise the deal is about 110 cr.
Speaking to a leading daily, he said, “It’s a privilege to be part of a great list of athletes that Puma has. Not just today’s icons like Usain Bolt but also the brand’s rich history with Pele, Maradona, Thierry Henry and others.”
“Both Puma and I are committed to a long-term partnership. I am impressed by the way Puma has gained popularity and market leadership in India in a short period of time,” he added.
A new era begins now. With @PUMA. #Forever #ForeverFaster pic.twitter.com/3d4rS3aHou
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 19, 2017
He also joins the elite bandwagon of signing 100-cr deals, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are in the 100-cr club but not with one solitary signing.
“Virat has transformed the way fitness is looked at in Indian cricket. He has emphasized the role of an athlete and reshaping cricket in the millennial culture, thus endorsing our brand ethos. He is a youth icon with an effortless style,” Puma India MD Abhishek Ganguly said.
