Kohli To End Rs 110 Crore Deal With Sports Apparel Giant? Report Says This

Virat Kohli is currently on a break from international cricket due to personal reasons. The former Indian cricket team captain informed the BCCI that he would be unavailable for the first two Tests against England in a five-match series. The squad for the last three Tests of the series is yet to be announced. There is intense speculation over his availability in  the last three Tests of the series. In the midst of this, a report has claimed an interesting update on Virat Kohli's off-field activity. 

In a report by cnbctv18.com, it has been claimed quoting anonymous sources, that Virat Kohli "on the verge of terminating his long-standing partnership with Puma India." The report also said that the news may come as a surprise to many after his eight-year association with the brand. The report further claimed Virat Kohli's association with the brand began with a whopping Rs 110 crore deal in 2017. It was one of the highly talked about endorsements in Indian sports. 

The report added that Virat Kohli may become the face of Agilitas Sports Pvt Ltd, a brand in  sports footwear manufacturing. The report claimed it reached out to both Puma and Agilitas Sports  for official statements but are yet to receive it. NDTV could not independently verify the credibility of the news.

Meanwile, one of the biggest hurdles for the selectors in announcing the roster for England tests seems to be the lack of clarity over Virat Kohli's availability. The former India skipper pulled out of the first two matches due to a family concern, which according to AB de Villiers is the birth of his and wife Anushka Sharma's second child. When England coach Brendon McCullum was asked about Kohli, he hoped all is well with the India star's family.

In a chat on TalkSport, McCullum couldn't hide his excitement over a possible duel with Kohli, hoping for his return ahead of the third Test.

"Virat's one of the greatest players of the game has seen. No doubt it improves this squad. As we have said throughout, the depth in Indian cricket, the talent in India is immense. So we respect every opposition player that we come up against," McCullum said.