Virat Kohli follows MS Dhoni’s footsteps; invests INR 90 crore in fitness centres

India Test captain Virat Kohli will invest a sum of INR 90 crore in setting up a chain of gymnasiums and fitness centres across various cities in India under the brand name ‘Chisel’. The investement will be a joint venture between Kohli, Chisel Fitness and CSE, a sister company of Cornerstone Sports and Entertainment.

“We will launch gyms of various sizes and with different facilities according to their locations. We are also in talks with international sports-based fitness experts to bring in their expertise,” said Satyam Sinha, director of Chisel Fitness.

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According to a report on the Times of India, the initial plan will be to launch 75 centres for a total investment of INR 190 crore in three years across the country, with plans of launching a fitness-related clothing line very much in the cards.

“The gyms are just a start. There are plans on the anvil to launch fitness inspired clothing lines and tech wearables in the future,” said Gaurav Marya, Chairman of Franchise India and one of the partners in the venture.

The move was the latest on Kohli’s part after Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper had earlier invested a minority stake of INR 1 crore a year in the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Goa. Kohli, however, is not the first to invest in fitness centres, with India One-Day International (ODI) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni launching SportsFit, his line of gymnasiums.