Virat Kohli joined LinkedIn on 13 October 2026 and published a long first post on the platform. The 37-year-old cricketer lists himself as Professional Athlete at the Indian Cricket Team, Co-Founder at one8world and Investor at Agilitas. His debut says as much about his business interests as about cricket.
Why does Virat Kohli joining LinkedIn matter?
Most Indian celebrities treat Instagram and X as their main channels. LinkedIn is a different audience: founders, investors, executives and job seekers. By choosing it, Kohli is presenting himself as a business figure first and a cricketer second.
His profile puts the Indian Cricket Team next to two commercial roles. That order of listing is a signal that his off-field work is now a core part of how he wants to be seen.
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LinkedIn India Country Manager Kumaresh Pattabiraman welcomed him and said Kohli represents a new generation of leaders who build beyond a single career. LinkedIn says it has over 185 million members in India and over a billion professionals worldwide.
What did Kohli say in his first LinkedIn post?
In the post, Kohli set out a vision for an Indian sports platform that covers manufacturing, consumer brands and sports distribution. He said India can help shape the future of global sport, not only take part in it.
He wrote, “I’ve always wanted to see an India where every sport is followed, celebrated, and played.” He also said he saw one8world come to life in front of thousands of people in his home city, Delhi.
The post closed with the line, “The vision is clear. It’s time to build something that will outlive all of us.”
He has said he will use the platform to write about leadership, team building, decision-making under pressure and sustaining performance, drawing on nearly two decades of international cricket.
What is one8 and what does Kohli do there?
one8 is the performance and active lifestyle label that Kohli co-founded and co-created. He is directly involved in shaping its products, including their function, design and finish. The label has been one of the clearest examples of an Indian athlete moving from endorsing brands to owning one.
Who is behind Agilitas Sports, where Kohli is an investor?
Agilitas Sports was founded in 2023 by Abhishek Ganguly, the former managing director of Puma India and Southeast Asia, along with Atul Bajaj and Amit Prabhu. It describes itself as a vertically integrated sports and active lifestyle company, handling product development, manufacturing, distribution, retail and brand building.
Its stated goal is to create Indian sporting brands with global relevance. Kohli is listed as an investor. Media reports have reportedly put his investment at about Rs 40 crore and said he turned down a Puma contract extension worth around Rs 300 crore. Neither figure has been confirmed.
Is the athlete-as-founder model growing among Indian celebrities?
Kohli is not the only one. Over the past few years, film stars and sportspersons have launched or backed fashion, beauty, wellness and food brands, and many now hold equity instead of only collecting endorsement fees. Our report on the richest Bollywood actors and their net worth shows how much of that wealth now comes from business stakes.
The same shift is visible in the consumer market. Indian D2C lifestyle labels, from sportswear to eyewear brands like Rawbare, are increasingly building for global buyers rather than only the home market.
A celebrity founder brings reach, but the product still has to sell on its own. Kohli’s model of owning and shaping the product, as with one8, is closer to what investors look for than a simple face-of-the-brand deal.
Kohli’s ventures at a glance
| Venture | Kohli’s role | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| one8 (one8world) | Co-founder and co-creator | Performance and active lifestyle products |
| Agilitas Sports | Investor | Vertically integrated sports and lifestyle company founded in 2023 |
| Indian Cricket Team | Professional athlete | Plays ODIs; retired from T20Is (2024) and Tests (May 2025) |
What is next for Kohli on the field?
Kohli retired from T20 internationals in 2024 and from Test cricket in May 2025, but he continues to play ODIs. India’s next ODI series is against New Zealand, with the first match reportedly scheduled for 4 November 2026 at Eden Park, Auckland. The five-match series is reportedly set for 4, 7, 10, 13 and 15 November.
For readers who like the cricket-and-cinema crossover, here is our list of the best Bollywood cricket movies and where to stream them.
Frequently asked questions
When did Virat Kohli join LinkedIn?
Kohli joined LinkedIn on 13 October 2026 and published a long first post the same day.
What roles does Kohli list on his LinkedIn profile?
He lists Professional Athlete at the Indian Cricket Team, Co-Founder at one8world and Investor at Agilitas, along with the BCCI.
What will Kohli post about on LinkedIn?
He plans to write about leadership, team building, decision-making under pressure and sustaining performance, based on his years in international cricket.
Is Kohli still playing international cricket?
Yes, in ODIs. He retired from T20 internationals in 2024 and from Tests in May 2025.
Sources: BestMediaInfo, Adgully, myKhel.
