Sports
Jaipur Polo Team partners with Johnnie Walker Luxe for 2025–26 season
Heritage sport and modern celebration meet on India’s polo circuit
JAIPUR: The Jaipur Polo Team has announced a strategic partnership with Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Whisky for the 2025–26 Indian polo season, bringing together two storied names bound by legacy and a belief in forward motion.
One is a standard-bearer of India’s polo heritage. The other has championed progress for over two centuries. Together, they promise a season where tradition meets contemporary flair, and the thundering hooves on the field are matched by thoughtfully curated celebrations off it.
With roots stretching back to the early twentieth century, the Jaipur Polo Team continues to carry its legacy under the leadership of HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh. Known for balancing continuity with modern ambition, the team represents a rare blend of aristocratic grace and competitive grit.
The partnership with Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Whisky builds on shared values of movement, refinement and reinvention. Guided by its ‘Keep Walking’ philosophy, the brand has long championed personal progress and cultural evolution. On the polo field, that ethos finds a natural ally in a sport that demands precision, poise and relentless drive.
Spanning seven tournaments through March, the collaboration will see the brand curate elevated hospitality experiences at four flagship fixtures. These spaces are designed not merely as viewing lounges but as immersive settings that celebrate craft, conversation and the art of gathering. The result is an expanded social canvas for patrons, partners and invited guests.
Speaking on the partnership, Jaipur Polo Team captain HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, said polo is as much about camaraderie and shared moments as it is about elite competition. He noted that the association strengthens the experiential layer of the season while remaining true to Jaipur’s heritage.
Diageo India vice president marketing, portfolio head premium and luxury Varun Koorichh, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to craftsmanship, heritage and progress. He added that polo mirrors the brand’s values, rooted in legacy yet constantly evolving, and that the collaboration celebrates forward momentum and excellence.
With more than 80 days of competitive play across India’s leading polo circuits, the Jaipur Polo Team’s 2025–26 season looks set to be as much about atmosphere as athleticism. On the turf, it is a contest of speed and skill. Beyond it, a celebration of history in motion.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
