Cricketer takes minority stake in Agilitas after brand sale.
Virat Kohli has sold his sportswear label one8 to Agilitas Sports, the vertically integrated sports manufacturing and retail platform founded by former Puma India head Abhishek Ganguly. As part of the deal, the cricketer will join Agilitas as an investor and co-founder of one8, committing Rs 400 million to acquire a minority stake in the parent company.
Agilitas operates across product design, manufacturing, R&D, brand-building and retail distribution. Its acquisition of Mochiko Shoes in 2023 — India’s largest sports footwear manufacturer — significantly boosted its capabilities and strengthened its end-to-end ecosystem for domestic and export markets.
one8, co-created by Kohli, spans sportswear, apparel, footwear and accessories, with a focus on combining athletic performance with lifestyle appeal. Agilitas said the partnership between Kohli and Ganguly evolved over years of informal conversations grounded in shared sporting values, discipline and a common desire to build a homegrown performance-led brand. “What began as informal conversations around building something original soon evolved into the creation of one8,†the company noted.
Kohli’s decision to sell one8 and invest directly in Agilitas stems from alignment on long-term strategy and a belief in the company’s vertically integrated model. While he could have invested solely in one8, he opted instead to become a shareholder in the holding entity after observing its capabilities across manufacturing, design, R&D and nationwide distribution.
“My relationship with Abhishek grew very naturally, it was never forced,†Kohli said, adding that one8 reflects his lifelong connection with sport and his preference for functionality-led design.
Ganguly said the partnership aims to build a high-performance Indian brand rooted in sports functionality and global ambition, with a clear vision to scale meaningfully over the next decade.
News source: The New Indian Express