Brands
Bumrah steps into Skechers’ shoes, ready to bowl rivals over the boundary
MUMBAI: Just when batsmen thought facing Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t get any scarier, Skechers armed him with shoes—shoes that promise comfort, style, and apparently, even more lethal yorkers. Imagine facing India’s pace king in sneakers designed for maximum traction—sounds terrifyingly brilliant, doesn’t it?
On 17 March 2025, Skechers—the comfort technology company®—signed cricket superstar Bumrah, adding yet another big fish to its athletic pond. The Mumbai Indians stalwart now competes wearing Skechers cricket footwear and will feature prominently in marketing campaigns for the brand’s performance and lifestyle collections.
“I joined the Skechers family as they are known for blending comfort with cutting-edge innovation,” said Bumrah, who recently earned the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for the 2024 ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. “Their wide range of offerings make it a perfect fit for athletes who value performance without compromising on style, especially for bowlers like me. I’m proud to represent a brand that resonates with my approach to both cricket and life.” Clearly, comfort is crucial when sending batters packing back to the pavilion.
Skechers south Asia Pvt. Ltd. CEO Rahul Vira highlighted the synergy, saying, “Jasprit Bumrah’s relentless pursuit of excellence perfectly aligns with Skechers’ commitment to innovation and performance. Having him as part of the Skechers family adds to our stellar roster of ambassadors, including Yastika Bhatia and Ishan Kishan. The Skechers Team of athletes illustrate how the signature Comfort That Performs of Skechers Cricket footwear can help anyone’s game no matter what level you play. We’re excited to further elevate our journey in cricket and continue shaping the future of sports culture in India.” Translation: Bumrah plus Skechers equals trouble for batsmen everywhere.
Bumrah isn’t your average bowler; he’s cricket’s equivalent of lightning in trainers. After debuting in 2014, he bagged over 400 international wickets by 2024 and uniquely achieved number one ICC rankings across all formats simultaneously. Add his ‘Player of the Series’ award from India’s 2024 World Cup triumph, and you have a cricketer who’s not just good, but absurdly good.
The Skechers Cricket collection, which Bumrah now represents, includes the Cricket Elite shoe with 11 spikes for players craving maximum grip—perfect for those dramatic follow-throughs and flamboyant appeals. The Cricket Blade, featuring seven spikes, caters to players who require agility and decisive action—ideal for those quick single-run dashes or frantic dive-ins.
Bumrah joins other big hitters and global sports icons already wearing Skechers: footballer Harry Kane, NBA giant Joel Embiid, and even pickleball maestros like Tyson McGuffin.
Fancy bowling like Bumrah or just avoiding slipping embarrassingly during Sunday cricket? Skechers Cricket shoes are now available in select retail stores and online at skechers.in.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
