A cricketer’s life is often decided by the time she or he spends playing in the pitches and the practice pits. While that definitely is true, there is more to cricketers than just their game. After all, they aren’t active players for their entire lives.
So, what do cricketers do after their glorious stint in the global pitches and grounds of cricket? And in some cases, even during their active playing career? Well, let’s find out.
These are some of the eminent Indian cricketers who have proved that they are the masters even outside the stadiums.
Sachin Tendulkar- Entrepreneur & Business Partner
When it comes to cricket or life after cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is high on the list everywhere. In addition to being one of the best cricketers to have ever played, Sachin Tendulkar has also had a fair share of the business space. In 2011, he founded the restaurant chain Tendulkar’s and Sachin’s in collaboration with the renowned hotelier Sanjay Narang. Shortly afterwards, he extended the chain to Bombay and Bangalore. Tendulkar also co-founded Sach and S Drive, health and fitness products companies, in partnership with the Future Group.
Tendulkar has a 7.5% stake in the United Arab Emirates-based travel agency Musafir and an 18% stake in Smaaash Entertainment, a sports simulation company. He also owns the Kerala Blasters Club of the Indian Super League.
Virat Kohli – A Sports brand in himself
Virat Kohli, the incumbent captain of the Indian National Cricket Team, is more than a champion on the pitch. He is the co-owner of the Indian club Super League Football Club Goa. His team followed his suit and won the football Hero Super Cup recently.
Apart from this, Kohli has his own fashion brand, called Wrogn. Inspired by the youngsters’ needs, the brand’s clothes are fashionable and vigorously popular among youth. Moreover, Kohli invested Rs 90 crore to build a fitness network named Chisel Fitness. He is also a shareholder in Sport Convo, a social media company that allows sports fans to connect and communicate.
MS Dhoni – a Perfect Businessperson, Entrepreneur & CEO
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, an embodiment of calm and composition with immense personal and cricket skills, has several titles to his credit. And the business world is not without his footprint. Dhoni entered the business world by purchasing the Indian Supersport World Championship team Mahi Racing Team India, jointly owned by South Indian actor Akkineni Nagarjuna.
He was also involved with the oil company Gulf Oil in 2011 when he was named ambassador of the company and soon became its CEO. As a businessman, Dhoni also established his clothing and fitness brand- Seven. He also has a stake in Sports Fit, one of the best fitness centres in India. He co-owns an ISL club called Chennaiyin FC. Along with that, he is also involved in Riti Sports, a sports marketing and management company.
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Cricketer or not, everyone needs a passion after fulfilling one desire.
Sourav Ganguly – Dada’s business acumen is as good as his cricket
Sourav Ganguly is unquestionably one of the greatest captains of the Indian cricket team who led and played international cricket. Dada, as millions of Indians popularly and warmly call him, is the current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He also works as a team consultant for the IPL team Delhi Capitals. Apart from this, Ganguly has also invested in various initiatives.
His first business, a restaurant called Sourav’s-The Food Pavilion, was not very successful. He then invested in a digital start-up called Flickstree, which personalizes various free media for the user, and minted profits.
Anil Kumble – the Wise, Academic Cricketer
Legendary spinner Anil Kumble is one of the most respected figures in Indian cricket. Kumble studied engineering at the National School of Engineering and entered cricket after that. And when he entered the world of cricket, he was unstoppable.
His excellence in cricket is also a testament to his professional life. He is the co-founder of a sports training and consulting company called TENVIC. He also founded a chip making company Spektacom, which identifies where a player hit the ball, and an app on a mobile phone portrays the strike zones.
Zaheer Khan and his entrepreneurial spirit
Zahir Khan is considered one of the best spinners to have played for the Indian cricket team. In addition to his specialization as a bowler, he is also a keen food enthusiast and the food industry in general. He has a restaurant called Zaheer Khan’s. The restaurant was established as an elegant dining room in 2005 but later became a sports bar with a restaurant and lounge.
Besides, Khan opened a gym called TOSS in Pune. With that, he started a fitness business called ProSport Fitness. His companies run two sports academies in Mumbai, which offer fitness and physiotherapy services.
While many millennials and GenZ people grew up watching these cricketers’ breathtaking performances, it is safe to say that our players are delivering well after their on-field stints.
Cricketer or not, everyone needs a passion after fulfilling one desire. And it is clear from these cases that our beloved sportspersons are following their entrepreneurial gut and adding to the industry significantly.
