- NTS
When it comes to cricket in India, we know that moolah flows from every nook and corner. While our cricketers earn crores from international fixtures and IPL matches, not many are aware of the major share of their earnings that come from their endeavors in fashion.
Glamour and stardom are no strangers to Indian cricket and hence comes the natural association with the fashion industry. So before you assume that they live on cricket, here is how cricketers make a career out of fashion too.
1. Virat Kohli: The brightest star in the Indian cricket sphere at present, Virat Kohli’s style has become a major talking point in the media. While his looks may be a feast for our eyes, it’s also a feast for his bank account. In 2015, Virat Kohli signed a major endorsement deal with Adidas reportedly worth Rs. 30 crore. If this was not enough, Virat also signed a major deal with Swiss watchmaker Tissot. Joining Deepika Padukone, Virat’s signing amount was kept under wraps. Brand pndits estimate the figure to be around Rs. 40-50 crore.
Moreover, the cricketer also launched a menswear retail chain called ‘Wrogn’ last year, with stores in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The brand aims at taking its net value to around Rs. 100 crore within four years. Moreover, Virat has also invested in a series of gyms and fitness centres called Chisels across the country. With an investment of over Rs. 90 crore, Virat owns 30 per cent stake in the firm.
2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni: The man with the Midas touch in Indian cricket, MS Dhoni rakes up moolah from the fashion industry too. As sponsorship for his bat alone, the Indian ODI and T20 captain earns an annual amount of Rs. 6 crore from Spartan Sports. The Jalandhar-based firm manufactures sportswear and footwear. Dhoni, after mutually terminating his contract with Reebok, tied up with Spartan.
Next, after having signed a Rs. 200 crore sports-management deal with Rhiti Sports Management, Dhoni joined hands with them for a fashion venture. Working closely on a brand called 'Seven’, Rhiti and Dhoni will be coming up with a line of sportswear that will have personal style, design and utility inputs from MS Dhoni. The partnership details were not made public, but it seems that Dhoni will be an active member of the business. Before stepping into Seven, Dhoni had also launched ‘7 by MS Dhoni’, a brand of deodorants for men, which did decent business in South East Asia. The deodorants were modestly priced at Rs. 700 each.
3. Yuvraj Singh: While the southpaw was known for his fiery batting and aggressive endorsements, his earnings from fashion seem to be heading for a lull. Like many cricketers, Yuvraj Singh has a hefty endorsement deal with sportswear brand Puma. The Germany headquartered firm pays an annual amount of Rs. 4 crore to Yuvraj Singh. In return, Yuvi uses their sticker on his bat and wears Puma shoes.
Yuvraj Singh had also heavily invested in an app called Vyomo. The app, working with GPS, locates and provides beauty services at home. The app was taken over by on-ground beauty salon Naturals for an amount of Rs. 100 crore. Moreover, Yuvi invested in tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi’s startup, Sports365.com. The amount he charges for his services from the sportswear e-commerce firm was undisclosed.
4. Sachin Tendulkar: While the little master is now an ex-cricketer, he still heavily invests in fashion and will be earning crores from it. In March this year, Sachin Tendulkar collaborated with major clothing company Arvind Fashion to come up with his own fashion label called True Blue. Targeted at young men, the clothing line will go to retail in May 2016. While Sachin is personally looking after the style elements of the clothes, the mid-ranged brand aims at a turnover of Rs. 200 crore in the next 5 years. While he doesn’t earn from the blue jersey anymore, his interest in fashion will keep his bank accounts warm.
5. Shikhar Dhawan: The amount of brand endorsements a cricketer earns is directly proportional to his performance on the field. This is why, perhaps, Shikhar Dhawan is losing (or has lost) his grip on the fashion retail market. In 2013, Shikhar Dhawan signed a deal with Future Group as a brand ambassador for FBB, its retail clothing line. While Shikhar remained at the helm of their 360-degree campaign for a couple of years, the brand seems to be sidelining the southpaw now. Signed for an undisclosed amount in 2013, Shikhar continues to serve but the company is not investing hugely on him.
But what surprised the fashion world was when Shikhar Dhawan, ‘coincidently’, became the brand ambassador of sportswear company ‘Zeven’. The company roped Shikhar Dhawan days before his captain Mahi announced his association with a brand called ‘Seven’. While Dhawan has maintained silence on the issue, Dhoni – while expressing surprise at the information – brushed it off by saying a little competition is good. The exact signing amount is not available, but brand pundits believe that owing to his performance and subsequent brand connect, it may not be a headline-worthy sum.
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