Virat Kohli signs staggering Rs 100 crore-deal with Puma
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Virat Kohli has signed an eight-year deal with the sports lifestyle brand Puma and has become the first Indian sportsman to sign a Rs 100 crore-deal with a single brand. Kohli has joined the likes of Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, and Thierry Henry as the global ambassador for the German brand.
The eight-year deal is likely to cover the remaining of Virat Kohli’s playing career, and it a fixed payment and royalty depending on the brand's business performance. "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 TOI.
Kohli, who is estimated to earn Rs 12-14 crore per year from this deal, will launch a signature line of sports lifestyle products with a special logo and brand identity.
"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," the 28-year-old added.
Back in 2013, Kohli signed a three-year deal, valued at Rs 10 crore per year with Adidas, but after that contract expired, both the parties decided against renewing it. This deal with Puma, however, raises the bar of sports endorsement in India to a new level.
"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 told TOI.
Kohli will be promoting the brand in UK, Australia, South Africa, and the Middle East, and Puma’s first commercial featuring the Indian skipper will be aired on Monday.
