United by Passion for Cricket, Building their Profession beyond the Wicket
In the wise words of Peter Drucker, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’. A new trend in the domain of cricket has taken centre stage. Cricketers in India are increasingly turning to being entrepreneurs as their alternate profession, due to the immense popularity of the sport, which grants them a huge fan base from the inception and significant brand visibility.
Some of the cricketing stars even while actively playing currently, have donned the hat of a businessman and decided to invest their earnings in different industries or create their own brands.
When the two extreme poles of cricket and business collide, it’s pure fireworks – like watching a perfectly timed sixer – pure magic! Imagine entrepreneurs as cricketers, navigating the tricky fluctuations of market variations and continuous developments, while investors play the pivotal role of fielders, ready to jump and catch hold of the next big break-through. Indian cricketers are smashing it beyond the boundary, playing key roles in the startup ecosystem too, with smart investments and endorsements that only multiply their ever-increasing bank balance. The journey from playing professional cricket to becoming a businessman is something youngsters can learn from.
1. Virat Kohli – The leader of the wolf pack, who has created an enormous empire of his own through his sharp business acumen and expanding business areas. His own brainchild One8, in partnership with Puma, is a leading sportwear brand today. It has been a game-changer, by bringing sports merchandise, apparel and equipment under one roof. The restaurant chain, One8 Commune has opened multiple outlets across different Indian cities.
2. KL Rahul – The latest entrant to the cricketer-cum-entrepreneur club, he has chosen to invest in health, wellness, sports and fashion areas. KL is a partner and investor in the perfume brand, Metaman; nutritional supplement brand HyugaLife and D2C fitness brand Boldfit.
3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Hailed as one of the best individuals ever to captain the Indian squad, MSD is extremely intelligent with his money management. His investments in the sportswear brand Seven, FMCG company 7InkBrews and Khatabook have proved to be fruitful choices, giving ample returns. He also owns a movie production company by the name Dhoni Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
4. Yuvraj Singh – The retired all-rounder, Yuvraj is the fire-power businessman, who has invested in businesses extremely close to his heart and feels passionate about. Being a cancer survivor himself, he set up an organization named ‘YouWeCan’, which has assisted several cancer patients over the years. He has also invested in health and education sector related startups.
5. Suresh Raina – The middle-order CSK veteran, Raina owns a restaurant named ‘Raina India’ in Amsterdam, the city his wife has a base in. Apart from this, he also co-founded a personal care brand for infants along with his spouse Priyanka, named ‘Maate’, which has grown to become a commendable name in the segment.
Well, our cricketers aptly live by the motto, ‘Catch Every Chance’ and believe in going beyond the boundaries. They are surely raking in the moolah – both on and off the field.
