Virat Kohli becomes co-owner of PWL franchise Bengaluru Yodhas
Indian Test cricket team captain Virat Kohli will co-own Pro Wrestling League (PWL) franchise Bengaluru Yodhas along with the JSW Group. The inaugural edition of the six-city-based franchise league will kick off on Thursday with the Mumbai Garuda team taking on CDR Punjab Royals in the opening match in Delhi.
After Rohit Sharma’s affiliation with PWL franchise UP Warriors, Virat Kohli, who has stakes in Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa and International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) team UAE Royals, becomes the second cricketer to be associated with the new league.
The #Yodhas have a new leader! Here's sending out a roaring welcome to @imVkohli, our new co-owner! #FromMattoBat pic.twitter.com/0b3zenJrJn
— Bengaluru Yodhas (@BengaluruYodhas) December 10, 2015Kohli also plays for Bangalore-based Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
“I was thrilled on hearing about the Pro Wrestling League and JSW Bengaluru Yodhas. I am no stranger to the city of Bangalore and it is wonderful that I can extend my association by way of the Yodhas,” Kohli said.
Six franchises will be competing in the inaugural season of the Pro Wrestling League – Mangalayatan University Dilli Veer, UP Warriors, Haryana Hammers, Punjab Royals, Revanta's Mumbai Garuda and Bengaluru Yodhas.
Each team will consist of nine wrestlers – five males and four females. The teams will have to maintain a combination of five Indians and four foreigners during the tournament, which will have a league phase, followed by the semi-finals and the final. The final is scheduled for December 27.
The second match of PWL will see Kohli’s Bengaluru Yodhas taking on Rohit Sharma’s UP Warriors at the KD Jadhav stadium in New Delhi on Friday.