Virat Kohli: The Brand-Building Machine
Virat Kohli's business strategy is as aggressive and ambitious as his batting. He has successfully launched and invested in ventures that reflect his personal brand, focusing on fitness, fashion, and youth-oriented startups. His athleisure brand One8,
co-created with Agilitas Sports, is a major player, while his fashion brand Wrogn resonates strongly with a younger demographic. Kohli's investment portfolio is diverse, including a significant stake in Chisel Fitness, a chain of gyms he helped establish with a reported investment of nearly Rs 90 crore. He and his wife, Anushka Sharma, have also backed startups like plant-based meat company Blue Tribe and invested in Digit Insurance. His portfolio also includes ventures in the restaurant business with One8 Commune, and he was an early co-owner of the ISL team FC Goa.
MS Dhoni: The Quiet Strategist
Much like his captaincy, MS Dhoni's business moves are calm, calculated, and incredibly effective, building a quiet empire reportedly worth over ₹1000 crore. His interests are notably diverse, spanning sports franchises, apparel, agriculture, and even entertainment. He co-owns the Indian Super League team Chennaiyin FC and previously had a superbike team, Mahi Racing. His own lifestyle and sportswear brand, SEVEN, launched in 2016 and leverages his immense popularity. Dhoni has also shown a keen eye for booming sectors, investing in startups like drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace, plant-based protein brand Shaka Harry, and fintech platform Khatabook. Adding another dimension to his portfolio, he has ventured into organic farming in his hometown of Ranchi and launched a production house, Dhoni Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Sachin Tendulkar: The Pioneer Investor
One of the earliest to transition from cricket icon to business mogul, Sachin Tendulkar has built a varied and mature investment portfolio. He was a co-owner of sports entertainment company Smaaash and the ISL football team Kerala Blasters. His business interests also include his own fashion label and investments in the digital space, backing companies like gaming and digital content firm JetSynthesys and used-car platform Spinny. Tendulkar has also made strategic angel investments in new-age companies, including quick-commerce startup Zepto and health-tech venture sugar.fit. Early in his post-cricket career, he launched restaurant chains and held a stake in a UAE-based travel company, showcasing a long-standing vision for building a business legacy beyond the cricket pitch.
Yuvraj Singh: The Purpose-Driven Venture Capitalist
Inspired by his personal battle with cancer, Yuvraj Singh established YouWeCan Ventures in 2015, a fund dedicated to investing in promising Indian startups. With an initial commitment of around Rs 50 crore, the fund aims to back early-stage companies across sectors like health-tech, consumer internet, and wellness. His investment philosophy is often brand-led, where he can act as a champion for the startups he supports. The portfolio includes a diverse range of companies, from private jet marketplace JetSetGo to diagnostics company Healthians and restaurant reservation platform EazyDiner. This move marked a significant shift, positioning a cricketer not just as an investor but as the founder of a venture capital fund with a clear mission.
Kapil Dev: The Original All-Rounder
India's first World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was also a trailblazer in cricketer-led entrepreneurship. Soon after his 1983 victory, he ventured into the hospitality business with 'Kaptain's Retreat', a hotel-restaurant in Chandigarh. A year after retiring, he founded Dev Musco Lighting, a company that specializes in installing floodlights in stadiums across India, including major grounds like the one in Mohali. His business interests are practical and diversified, including stakes in a financial services firm and an electronic security solutions company. He has also leveraged his passion for golf into real estate collaborations, associating with golf-themed residential projects. Kapil Dev set an early example of how sporting discipline and a trusted name can be leveraged to build a sustainable and varied business portfolio.
