During a One8 world event, host Danish Sait (reported by journalist Vikrant Gupta) asked Kohli a playful question about his new shoes. “The Red shoe has been priced at Rs 9,230 (Virat's Test runs), so
would you want to return to Test cricket (and add more runs) to make the shoe make more money?”. When asked if he would return to the format to boost his run count and make the shoes more expensive, Kohli gave a clear, witty answer: "Na na, I would rather undersell. I am done with it.” The newly launched shoes, named the one8 Seam XVIII Signature – Test Red, were designed from the ground up as a love letter to Test match cricket. Kohli co-created the sneakers to carry deep symbolism for hardcore cricket purists. In an unprecedented marketing move, the price is not a random number.
It reflects exactly 9,230 runs, the final milestone Kohli reached before hanging up his Test whites. The sides feature exactly 18 distinct white stitches. This detail serves a dual purpose: it mirrors the stitched seam of a cricket ball and honors Kohli’s iconic jersey number 18. During the launch, Kohli gifted the very first exclusive pair to his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, highlighting the deep personal sentiment attached to the release. Just days prior, Kohli's coach had teased in interviews that thousands of fans were begging him to convince Virat to stage a comeback so he could cross the elusive 10,000-run milestone. Kohli’s reply made it clear that he feels no commercial or competitive urge to chase statistics anymore.
Q: The Red shoe has been priced 9230 (Virat’s Test runs), so would you want to return to Test cricket (add more runs) to make the shoe make more money? [Vikrant Gupta] Virat Kohli said "Na na I would rather undersell, I am done with it (Test cricket)". pic.twitter.com/xcB7ENGNhM
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 21, 2026
Virat Kohli shares vision behind One8 Seam XVIII launch
At the grand global premiere of his new footwear line in New Delhi, Virat Kohli shared that the core idea behind his new shoes is to remove the "feeling of discomfort" so athletes can focus entirely on executing their skills without distraction. He wanted to create a high-performance shoe that frees an athlete's mind and gives them the confidence to push beyond their limits. “It gives you a sense of comfort and it gets you rid of that feeling of discomfort…” The debut shoes, including the Seam XVIII Signature, are heavily inspired by the craftsmanship, texture, and feel of a red cricket ball. Kohli revealed that he was deeply involved in the process.
Virat Kohli opens up about the idea behind his new shoes at the global premiere of @one8world pic.twitter.com/rcsBasdx7n
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) June 21, 2026
He rejected 17 different prototype versions until he finally approved the 18th design, matching his famous jersey number. Kohli emphasized the deep emotional aspect of this launch, noting that he wanted to stop just endorsing someone else's products and instead build India's first global high-performance sports brand from scratch. By partnering with Agilitas Sports, Kohli is debuting as an active co-founder rather than just a face for marketing. He stated that the team took their time without rushing to ensure that the craftsmanship and functional quality perfectly align with his elite athletic standard.
