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Tag: Virat Kohli

  • RCB skipper Virat Kohli jumps onboard MX TakaTak app

    RCB skipper Virat Kohli jumps onboard MX TakaTak app

    Mumbai: Amidst the burgeoning cricket fever that has engulfed the nation, MX TakaTak recently announced itself as the official short video partner for seven IPL teams. Now, the platform has roped in global cricket icon Virat Kohli, who has signed on as a member.

    The Indian captain will not only create fun and exclusive TakaTak Videos but also participate in hashtag challenges and livestreams, offering his fans a chance to get a closer look at him off the field as well.

    Regarded as one of the top batsmen in the world, Kohli has remained one of the undisputed leaders in terms of the number of followers for an Indian sportsman across all major social media platforms. His posts on MX TakaTak will offer his fans insight into the candid moments from his life.

    Kohli said, “I’m really excited to have joined MX TakaTak. It’s the leading short video app and gives me a new place to share moments from my life and to have authentic conversations with my fans across the globe.”

    MX Player and MX TakaTak CEO Karan Bedi said, “Short video platforms have until now been at the early part of the adoption curve, primarily led by the rapidly growing online influencer community to showcase their talent and build their fan base. However, with legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, who is India’s biggest celebrity as well as one of the world’s top stars, creating an account on MX TakaTak, we are now in the cultural mainstream.”

    He further added, “This space has changed a lot since the time we entered the market and has marked several high points in only a year. We are happy to be welcoming the Indian Cricket Superstar – Virat Kohli to the TakaTak family and look forward to being part of his life. With this move and many more to come, we want to offer our millions of users more delightful moments from their biggest idols’ lives.”

  • Washington Sundar signs on as Anker brand ambassador

    Washington Sundar signs on as Anker brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Chinese electronics company Anker has roped in Washington Sundar as its brand ambassador. From now, Sundar will helm all major campaigns for the brand across media platforms. The cricketer is also expected to appear in his first promotional TVC for the brand very soon. 

    The partnership between Anker and Sundar will be managed by the latter’s management agency, Whiteleaf Talent. With this partnership, Anker aims to elevate the existing customer base and further reach out to the youth in the country by utilising the popularity of the Team India batsman. 

    In 2019, Anker had appointed Olympic medal-winning badminton player Saina Nehwal as its brand ambassador. 

    Anker Innovation India head Gopal Jeyaraj said, "We are excited to begin our new innings with Washington Sundar as our brand endorser. Anker’s journey has been similar to that of Washington Sundar who rose from very humble beginnings to touch cricketing heights at the International level. We feel that his persona is an excellent fit for our brand. We are looking forward to this amazing partnership and extending our best wishes to Sundar, for the ongoing IPL season." 

    Sundar said that he is happy and excited to partner with a young and dynamic brand like Anker. 

    "Anker is breaking the industry stereotypes, and is constantly evolving with innovative and stylish tech products. Through this association, I’m happy to explore my love for gadgets and extend my complete support to see them achieve new heights," he added. 

    Meanwhile, the Indian arm of German sports brand Puma has also inked a long-term partnership deal with Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal. Sundar and Padikkal have now joined Puma's roster of cricketers that include Indian skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. 

  • Puma India signs Washington Sundar & Devdutt Padikkal

    Puma India signs Washington Sundar & Devdutt Padikkal

    MUMBAI: Global sports brand Puma has signed a long-term partnership deal with two up and coming players, Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal. The duo joins Puma’s impressive roster of cricketers that include Indian captain Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, women’s national cricketer Sushma Verma and legends like Yuvraj Singh.

    Considered the future of Indian cricket, Sundar and Padikkal have been punching above their weights in major cricketing tournaments. Sundar’s all-round performance in Australia helped the Indian cricket team clinch a historic away test series win and Padikkal emerged as a ‘find of the season’ with his stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in his debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Sundar, a game changer and Devdutt, a consistent run-getter in the domestic circuit perfectly embody Puma’s ‘Forever Faster’ spirit.

    Puma India and southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly said, “Washington and Devdutt have displayed remarkable resilience and grit on field that’s led to their meteoric rise as athletes. We have always believed in supporting not just established players, but also talent with immense future potential. We will continue to partner with young athletes, also at the grassroots to give back to India’s sporting ecosystem.”

    Washington Sundar said, “Feels great to be associated with a brand like Puma which has some of the world’s greatest athletes in their roster. Watching skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul closely has given me a deeper insight into the brand. Puma adds a lot of credibility to an athlete’s journey and I’m excited to work with the brand in India.”

    Devdutt Padikkal added, “A partnership with a global sports brand like Puma is really a big motivation for young athletes like me. I’m looking forward to a long-term association with the brand.”

    Sundar and Devdutt are currently part of the Kohli-led IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing IPL 2021.   

  • Virat Kohli shares his learning mantra in new Great Learning spot

    Virat Kohli shares his learning mantra in new Great Learning spot

    NEW DELHI: Edtech platform Great Learning has released a new TVC that features brand ambassador Virat Kohli meditating on the importance of lifelong learning. The ad film is the third in the series of the multi-film campaign titled Power Ahead – Jo Seekhta Hai Wahi Aage Badhta Hai.

    It draws attention towards the significance of taking lessons from one’s victories and defeats alike and showcases how upskilling is a necessary step for students and professionals to power ahead in their careers. The campaign has been conceptualised by Sideways and directed by Cornerstone.

    The film opens with Kohli emphasising on the significance of lifelong learning, by sharing his personal journey of learning from victories, defeats, mistakes, right and wrong decisions, critics and fans in order to improve his performance on the field each day and in each match. He further adds that in order to succeed whether it is in cricket or in life, one must always have the willingness to learn new things.

    Great Learning CMO Aparna Mahesh said, “Virat’s ethos of pursuing excellence is exactly what we follow at Great Learning while delivering our programs across domains to our learners. We believe his passion to stay at the top of his game will inspire our learners and audience to uplift their careers through mentored learning.”

    Sideways co-founder Abhijit Avasthi, “Great Learning's stance of 'Jo seekhta hai, wahi aagey badhta hai' is true of any sphere of life or career. Virat is an embodiment of this philosophy. And the results are there for all to see. We have seen a lot of traction ever since we launched this thought last August. We hope to continue and build on the momentum."

  • Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid’s calm facade cracks in new Cred ad

    Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid’s calm facade cracks in new Cred ad

    MUMBAI: How many times have you seen the Indian cricket team’s former captain Rahul Dravid lose his cool and holler at an opponent? Chances are nil. Known for his calm and gentlemanly temperament, both on and off-the-field, ‘The Wall’, as he’s been dubbed for his rock solid Test match innings, has seldom been known to crumble even under the most intense, nail-biting match situations. So, it’s not surprising that a new ad for credit card payment app Cred, which shows him in a never-before-seen angry avatar, has been breaking the internet! Fans just cannot have enough of this spanking-new side of the cricketer.

    So much so that, even current Team India skipper Virat Kohli could not believe his eyes and took to Twitter to share his disbelief saying, “Never seen this side of Rahul bhai,” with a shocked emoji.

     

     

    The ad plays precisely on this sense of disbelief to promote Cred’s cashback and reward schemes, saying that the offer may sound as unbelievable and ridiculous as saying “Rahul Dravid has anger issues!” And then goes on to show the rarely-flustered cricketer losing his cool while stuck in Bengaluru’s infamous traffic jam. Dravid aces his road rage acting display, even going on to stand up through his SUV’s sunroof with a cricket bat in hand to holler, “Indiranagar ka gunda hun main!’ (I am the don of Indiranagar- a well-known locality in the metro).”

    The ad, released ahead of the opening match of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, went viral in no time and has garnered two million views already.

    It even sparked a meme fest online, with some netizens listing it among Dravis’s best ‘performances’ and some blaming the cricketer’s new-found aggression on the Bengaluru traffic, saying it can do this to the best of us.

  • Vivo ropes in Virat Kohli as brand ambassador

    Vivo ropes in Virat Kohli as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Over the years, Vivo's association with the Indian Premier League (IPL) has indisputably helped the smartphone-maker connect with its consumers. To further cement its bond with the game, Vivo has named sports icon Virat Kohli, also the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, as its brand ambassador. With the association, the brand aims to reach the millennials and technologically driven consumers.

    A 360-degree marketing approach will characterise Vivo's partnership with Kohli. The cricketer will be seen spreading awareness and promoting the launch of the Chinese smartphone major’s upcoming products series in the pipeline. The association will include all ATL and BTL activities, including the brand’s forthcoming TV campaigns and print, outdoor, social media, and events.

    Vivo India director-brand strategy Nipun Marya said, "We are thrilled to have Virat Kohli on board. Collaborating with someone as effervescent as Virat is a great way to better connect with our young consumers. Along with Aamir Khan and Sara Ali Khan, we wish to widen our brand reach, and we are confident that associating with a sports figure will help us in reaching a wider audience."

    Kohli said, "As a sportsperson, I understand the importance of consistency and commitment in the game. Vivo, as a brand, has established itself as one of the leading players in the Indian smartphone market with its consistency towards delivering innovative technology. The way Vivo has brought joy to its customers' lives through simplified technology, and advancements in mobile photography are game-winning."

    Vivo, which competes with players like Xiaomi and Samsung in the Indian market, is also the title sponsor of the 2021 edition of the IPL. This has helped the brand establish a connect with young Indian users, along with expanding its pan India presence. As part of its commitment to 'Make in India', all Vivo smartphone series are manufactured at the Greater Noida facility. 

  • Virat Kohli becomes the face of Digit Insurance

    Virat Kohli becomes the face of Digit Insurance

    MUMBAI: General insurance company Digit Insurance has roped in cricketer Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador. Kohli has also invested in Digit Insurance in the past. With this association, the company aims to carry the message of ‘making insurance simple’ through the cricketer.

    Digit Insurance became the first unicorn of 2021 with a valuation of $1.9 billion, and claims to have earned over 1.5 crore customers in its three years of operation.

    Digit Insurance chairman Kamesh Goyal said, “At Digit, our mission is to make insurance simple, and our endeavour is to spread the message of the importance of insurance across India. And who better than Virat Kohli who is the most dependable, hard-working, and focused youth icon we have today, to represent us. We are happy to have him onboard.”

    “Insurance is important to protect one’s family, savings, and future. And given my life-stage, I understand its need more than ever,” added Kohli. “But insurance is so complicated, and people procrastinate buying it. Therefore, Digit Insurance's mission of 'making insurance simple' caught my attention and I am happy to join their journey to spread awareness about insurance.”

  • Virat Kohli stays cool while shaking a leg in new Blue Star TVC

    Virat Kohli stays cool while shaking a leg in new Blue Star TVC

    NEW DELHI: Air conditioning and commercial refrigeration company Blue Star has released a pan-India ad campaign starring brand ambassador Virat Kohli.

    Built around the thought of ‘Happiness is a fast-cooling AC’, the TV commercials show Kohli rescuing helpless people from a slow cooling AC. The print advertisements featuring the Team India captain make a strong pitch for a fast-cooling AC. The campaign, conceptualised by FCB Interface, is also being rolled out on platforms such as OOH, digital, dealership collaterals and other key touch points.

    Blue Star managing director B Thiagarajan said, “Our continuous efforts have enabled us to offer something new every season and I am glad that this time around, it is our new range of ‘fast cooling’ ACs. Designed to tackle harsh summers, this new range is indeed the need of the hour. We have rolled-out a new peppy campaign featuring Virat Kohli which focuses on the key benefit of ‘fast-cooling’ of this new range. With this campaign, we have further extended our association with Virat as his mass appeal has been enabling us to connect to and widen our TG to include tier-3/4/5 markets.”

    FCB Interface chief creative officer Robby Mathew added, “When an AC does not cool fast, it only adds to our discomfort. This is the insight that the campaign builds on, with a dash of fun and the kind of energy that Virat Kohli brings.”

  • Virat Kohli commands highest brand value in Indian cricket: Checkbrand report

    Virat Kohli commands highest brand value in Indian cricket: Checkbrand report

    New Delhi: Checkbrand, an online sentiment analysis company, has analysed data for 45 top players on social media for the period of August – October 2020 and released a report on the online sentiments around them. This is the first quarterly analysis on the latest trending Indian cricketers by any agency in the country. Since the report is released for the first time, there is no comparison to the past data. Checkbrand analyzed more than 100 million online impressions for the report.

    The most trending (Twitter, Google Search, Wiki, YouTube etc) player was Yuvraj Singh in the last quarter (1622) followed by Rohit Sharma (1591) and Virat Kohli (1574), Harbhajan Singh ( 1376) and Parthiv Patel (1362). It was interesting to note that three retired players were amongst the top three trending players in last quarter.

    Virat Kohli has taken the top position when it comes to engagement on social media at 1.1 lakhs followed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni 1.02 lakhs, Rohit Sharma at 0.80 lakhs, Kapil Dev at 0.51 lakh and HardikPandaya at 0.40 lakh. Four cricketers had zero engagement Rahul Dravid, Piyush Chawla, Axar Patel and Sunil Gavaskar.

    Top three positions are undertaken by ex-cricketers when it comes to mentions. Kapil Dev has the highest mentions in the last quarter 8.8 lakhs, Dhoni at 6.2 lahks, Irfan Pathan at 4.27 lakhs, Virat Kohli at 3.45 lakhs. Umesh Yadav has the maximum positive sentiment at 86.3 per cent followed by Yuvraj Singh at 85.6 per cent, Suresh Raina at 74.8 per cnet, Ashwin at 73.4 per cent and Kapil Dev at 73.7 per cent.

    Virat Kohli emerged as the clear winner with a brand score of 43.94, followed by Yuvraj Singh 40.40, Sachin Tendulkar 37.51, Umesh Yadav 35.91, Suresh Raina 35.01 and Dhoni at 34.80. The overall score is measured out of 100. Five parameters have been considered for devising this score which are followers (20), trends (10), sentiment (30), engagement (20) and mentions (20).

    The Indian captain’s brand value in monetary terms basis the engagement and followers stood at Rs 3.28 billion, for Sachin Tendulkar at Rs 1.67 billion, followed by MS Dhoni at Rs 1.24 billion, Rohit Sharma at Rs 0.96 billion and Suresh Raina at Rs 0.60 billion.

    Speaking on the sentiment analysis, Checkbrand.online and ADG Online MD Anuj Sayal said, “The mentions for Kapil Dev were the highest and engagement was in the top five players due to the biopic movie on the cricketer. Despite low performance during the IPL MS Dhoni has stayed in top 5 positions in almost all the parameters apart from trends. Sachin’s brand value is the second highest amongst all the cricketers.”        

    “This is our first report and we plan to add more interesting anecdotes in our next quarterly report. We wanted to create a platform that could help brands understand their real value in terms of presence on Digital media on real-time basis.  We are eager to work for them and help them improve their overall digital presence,” he further added.

  • Madras High Court issues orders to Tamil Nadu, central government & brand endorsers in PIL against online gaming

    Madras High Court issues orders to Tamil Nadu, central government & brand endorsers in PIL against online gaming

    NEW DELHI: Acting on a PIL against the ill-effects of online gaming filed by an advocate Mohammed Rizvi, the Madras High Court has issued notices to Cricket team captain, Virat Kohli, President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Saurav Ganguly and the Central and Tamil Nadu governments. 

    The TN government, represented by AAG Sricharan Rangarajan, has asked for 10-days time to file a response. The case has thus been adjourned to 19 November.

    The court also voiced concern that lives have been lost due to online games and the lack of law governing such issues in Tamil Nadu.

    The PIL also names Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and celebrity endorsers such as actors Prakash Raj, Tamannah Bhatia, Rana Daggubati and Sudeep as respondents.

    In his petition, Razvi had risen serious concerns about gaming addiction and social stigma. He cited instances of children who have died by suicide on account of playing online games similar to the Blue What challenge and after losing in PUBG to state exposure to online gaming introduces the kids to a world of crime and negative thinking,

    Other instances where people have died because they have lost money while playing Online Rummy and online gambling were also highlighted by him.