Cricket Stars Turned Business Tycoons: A Look at Their Ventures and Investments.
As the cricket World Cup 2023 kicks off, it's not just the on-field action that's making headlines. Several cricket stars have been making strategic moves off the field, investing in promising startups and launching their own business ventures.
- Sachin Tendulkar: The Master Blaster's Business Innings
Sachin Tendulkar, often referred to as the 'God of Cricket', has made significant strides in the business world. He owns a company named 100 and holds a 7.5% stake in Musafir, a UAE-based tour and travel company. His investment portfolio also includes Smartron India, Smaaash Entertainment, Indian Super League, JetSynthesys, Spinny, International Premier Tennis League, Rario, S Drive, and Sach. His most recent investment was in AZAD Engineering in May 2023.
- Virat Kohli: A Diversified Portfolio
Virat Kohli, another cricketing legend, owns eight entrepreneurial ventures including One8, Commune, Nueva, Puma One8, FC Goa, UAE Royals, Bengaluru Yodhas, Wrogn and Stepathlon. He has diversified his investment portfolio, actively engaging with promising startups. Together with his wife, Anushka Sharma, the power couple has extended their support to several emerging ventures, spanning a wide range of sectors including health, insurance, and tour and travel.
- MS Dhoni: From Cricket Pitch to Business Arena
MS Dhoni, after retiring from cricket, has taken a keen interest in various business ventures. He owns a majority stake in the sporting wear brand, Seven, and is also a partner in the footwear business of the brand. Dhoni's other entrepreneurial ventures include Chennaiyin FC, SportsFit World, Hotel Mahi Residency, and 7InkBrews. He also ventured into farming, selling organic produce from his farms to a company in Dubai.
- Yuvraj Singh: Investing in the Future
Yuvraj Singh, despite refraining from investing in Indian startups this year, continues to hold a portfolio of 12 startups, the highest among his peers. His startup portfolio comprises Wellversed, EazyDiner, Educart, Chqbook, Healthians, Vyomo, SportyBeans, Moovo, Black White Orange, JetSetGo, HoloSuit, and AutoBrix-acquired Cartisan.
- Other Cricketers: Joining the Startup Bandwagon
Hardik Pandya, the captain of Gujarat Titans in Indian Premier League 2023, made a strategic investment in the consumer food brand, Yu. KL Rahul, another cricket star, invested in XYXX, a Surat based men's apparel brand. Shikhar Dhawan, founded Da One Global Ventures, a multi-stage celeb-led fund concentrating on solutions spanning the wide spectrum of Sports, Esports, Sports Tech, Gaming, Analytics and Web3. Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad, are the founders of 4CAST, athlete entrepreneurial collective, and investors in the Players Fund. Also Pat Cummins, Australian cricket captain, is the co-founder of Treeswift Ventures, builds forest inventories powered by robotics and AI.
With the startup culture thriving and a favorable environment for entrepreneurship in the country, these cricket stars are not just content with endorsing brands; they are diving headfirst into promising business ventures, investing their valuable time and hard-earned money in enterprises they believe hold immense promise and relevance.
As the cricket World Cup 2023 unfolds, it's clear that the cricketing legends are not just making runs on the field, but also making smart runs in the business world. Their investments and business ventures are a testament to their vision and entrepreneurial spirit, setting a new trend for sports personalities.