Virat Kohli joins LinkedIn with a vision to take Indian sports brands global

MUMBAI: Virat Kohli is taking his business ambitions to a new playing field. The Indian cricketer has made his debut on LinkedIn, using the professional networking platform to spotlight his roles as an investor in Agilitas Sports and co-founder and co-creator of one8world.

In his introductory post, Kohli outlined his ambition to help build an end-to-end sports ecosystem from India, spanning manufacturing, consumer brands and sports distribution. He said he wanted to see an India where every sport was followed, celebrated and played, adding that a new generation was demonstrating the country’s ability to produce world-class athletes and build brands for international markets.

“That’s why I’ve joined Agilitas as an Investor and as a Co-founder and Co-creator of one8world,” Kohli wrote.

The move places the spotlight on his business interests beyond cricket and brand endorsements, as he seeks to contribute to the development of homegrown sports and lifestyle businesses.

Kohli said one8 was built around a belief in pushing boundaries, raising standards and doing things differently. He described the launch of one8world in his home city, before thousands of people, as one of the most meaningful moments of his life.

“The vision is clear. It’s time to build something that will outlive all of us,” he wrote, describing the journey he hopes to pursue with the ventures.

Agilitas Sports operates in the sportswear and activewear space, while one8 is associated with Kohli’s ambitions in the consumer lifestyle market. His LinkedIn profile now identifies him as a professional athlete with the Indian cricket team, co-founder at one8world and investor at Agilitas.

Kohli’s arrival on LinkedIn gives him a platform to present his business interests to a professional audience, including entrepreneurs, industry leaders and potential collaborators. Unlike social media channels primarily associated with personal updates and endorsements, LinkedIn offers a space to discuss business building, leadership and long-term strategy.

His move also reflects a broader shift among athletes towards equity ownership and entrepreneurship, with commercial interests extending beyond sponsorship deals to investments and brand creation.

LinkedIn India country manager Kumaresh Pattabiraman welcomed Kohli to the platform, highlighting the growing trend of prominent professionals expanding their influence beyond their core careers.

With more than 185 million members in India and over one billion worldwide, LinkedIn offers Kohli access to a sizeable professional network. Whether his debut translates into a regular stream of business insights remains to be seen, but the message is clear: Kohli wants his next innings to count beyond the cricket field.