Bengaluru: Agilitas Sports, the vertically integrated manufacturing-to-retail sports platform founded by Abhishek Ganguly, has announced the acquisition of one8, the sportswear brand co-created by Virat Kohli. As part of the transaction, Kohli joins Agilitas as an investor and Co-founder of one8—strengthening a long-standing collaboration and setting the foundation to build “India’s first global high-performance sports brand.”
Agilitas Sports operates across the entire value chain—manufacturing, R&D, brand-building, and retail distribution. Its acquisition of Mochiko Shoes in 2023, India’s largest sports footwear manufacturer, further bolstered its domestic and export capabilities.
The partnership between Kohli and Ganguly stemmed from years of mutual trust and a shared commitment to sporting excellence. What began as informal discussions on creating something original eventually evolved into one8.
Kohli’s decision to bring one8 under Agilitas stems from strategic alignment and long-term brand vision. While he had the option to invest solely in one8, he chose instead to become a shareholder in Agilitas, impressed by its vertically integrated strengths in manufacturing, design, R&D and distribution.
Virat Kohli, Co-founder & Investor, one8, said, “My relationship with Abhishek grew very naturally, it was never forced. One day, while casually talking about my desire to build something of my own, he simply said, ‘Let’s go for it,’ and that’s how one8 began. Sport has shaped my entire life. Movement, comfort, and performance define everything for me, and that philosophy naturally translated into the brand. I always wanted a sports-first approach to style – where functionality, comfort and identity come together.
What inspired me to bring one8 to Agilitas was the depth of its manufacturing, the strength of the people, the structure they’ve built, and Abhishek’s expertise. I am deeply involved in the creative process of everything that comes out. Nothing excites me more than building something that represents quiet confidence, gives me my Indian identity, and takes it from India to the world.”
Under this new chapter, one8 will intensify its focus on high-performance footwear, training apparel, and sport-led lifestyle products—anchored in innovation, functionality, and athlete-centered design.
Abhishek Ganguly, Founder, Agilitas Sports, said, “I first met Virat on the day he scored a double hundred in Mumbai and still went straight into training after a full day in the heat, that moment stayed with me. It defined his mindset. Our relationship has always been honest, open, and driven by a shared belief in pushing beyond limits.
The one8 mindset is about taking risks, trying the unknown and never settling. Agilitas is truly represented in one8, and Virat truly represents that mindset. Together, we are building a high-performance brand from India, rooted in sports functionality, best-in-class quality and a very clear reason to exist – with the ambition to be globally meaningful over the next decade.”
