Virat Kohli is the first cricketer to score three centuries in his first three innings as a Test captain. He is the first cricketer four double centuries in consecutive series. And in a long list of firsts, he can now add his Rs 100 crore endorsement deal with Puma.
Yes, captain Kohli just became the first Indian sportsperson to sign a Rs 100 crore deal with a single brand, and this one should take him till the end of his career (it’s 8 years long, till the time he’ll be 36).
Kohli joins the likes of Usain Bolt and Sergio Aguero in a star-studded lineup of sports-persons the sports and lifestyle brand have on their roster.
According to an Economic Times report, the deal “involves a fixed payment and royalty depending on the brand’s business performance.” It also adds that the bulk of the deal however, will be in the form of a fixed payout.
But Kohli will also get a special logo just like Lionel Messi has one for Adidas, or like Michael Jordan for Nike.
“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,” Kohli was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Over their careers, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were also known to sign for brands for massive amounts. But it was Tendulkar’s Rs 30 crore a deal with WorldTel all the way back in 1995 that proved that Indian cricketers had the marketing muscle.
At the peak of his powers, Dhoni was raking in around Rs 180 crore, not far behind Shah Rukh Khan.
But it’s officially the Kohli era now – with the batsman taking on the reigns in all three formats of the game.
Kohli was earlier with Adidas, with whom he had a deal worth Rs 10 crore, which wasn’t renewed.
Feature image source: Virat Kohli/Puma