Virat's next venture: Kohli backs new ten-pin league

The Advertiser

21 hours ago

The first edition of the World Bowling League (WBL), backed by cricket icon Virat Kohli and baseball star Mookie Betts, will roll out with six franchises competing in iconic locations early next year.
The WBL is looking to transform a pastime for millions around the world into a cutting edge, made-for-TV experience via a heady mix of celebrity franchise owners, exotic locations and technological innovation.
"It's an incredible sport which just hasn't been structured correctly for the past 50-60 years and everyone just dismisses it as a recreational activity," league chief Adi K. Mishra told Reuters.
"We are going to launch with six franchises in the first quarter of next year. It's going to be a team of four - two male and two female bowlers.
"We want to take two lanes and put them in iconic locations around the world - Hudson Yards in New York, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a variety of different locations in Dubai and India."
The founder and CEO of sports tech firm League Sports Co did not go into detail about the format but said professional bowlers would compete in the core sport while celebrities would take part in auxiliary events, with teams collecting points throughout the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Betts bought the first announced franchise in May and the WBL pulled off another marketing coup when Kohli came on board as a strategic investor last month.
Weaving complementary programming featuring celebrity bowlers like Betts and Kohli around the core sport would make it an irresistible proposition for broadcasters, said Mishra.
"We already have many broadcasters lined up," he said.
"A lot of them believe they can bring in other influencers and celebrities."
Mishra and Kohli know each other through their joint ownership of a team in the E1 electric powerboat world championship, and the cricketer's fondness for bowling came as a pleasant surprise as the WBL was being in the planning stage.
"Over the years, I've met a lot of celebs who happen to be closet bowlers," Mishra said.
"We were speaking about various things about the team and it turned out that he has been bowling and watching it since he was 11-12.
"That was a big surprise for me and we wanted him to be part of this. Hopefully we'll get him to bowl when he has more time for it."
The first edition of the World Bowling League (WBL), backed by cricket icon Virat Kohli and baseball star Mookie Betts, will roll out with six franchises competing in iconic locations early next year.
The WBL is looking to transform a pastime for millions around the world into a cutting edge, made-for-TV experience via a heady mix of celebrity franchise owners, exotic locations and technological innovation.
"It's an incredible sport which just hasn't been structured correctly for the past 50-60 years and everyone just dismisses it as a recreational activity," league chief Adi K. Mishra told Reuters.
"We are going to launch with six franchises in the first quarter of next year. It's going to be a team of four - two male and two female bowlers.
"We want to take two lanes and put them in iconic locations around the world - Hudson Yards in New York, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a variety of different locations in Dubai and India."
The founder and CEO of sports tech firm League Sports Co did not go into detail about the format but said professional bowlers would compete in the core sport while celebrities would take part in auxiliary events, with teams collecting points throughout the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Betts bought the first announced franchise in May and the WBL pulled off another marketing coup when Kohli came on board as a strategic investor last month.
Weaving complementary programming featuring celebrity bowlers like Betts and Kohli around the core sport would make it an irresistible proposition for broadcasters, said Mishra.
"We already have many broadcasters lined up," he said.
"A lot of them believe they can bring in other influencers and celebrities."
Mishra and Kohli know each other through their joint ownership of a team in the E1 electric powerboat world championship, and the cricketer's fondness for bowling came as a pleasant surprise as the WBL was being in the planning stage.
"Over the years, I've met a lot of celebs who happen to be closet bowlers," Mishra said.
"We were speaking about various things about the team and it turned out that he has been bowling and watching it since he was 11-12.
"That was a big surprise for me and we wanted him to be part of this. Hopefully we'll get him to bowl when he has more time for it."
The first edition of the World Bowling League (WBL), backed by cricket icon Virat Kohli and baseball star Mookie Betts, will roll out with six franchises competing in iconic locations early next year.
The WBL is looking to transform a pastime for millions around the world into a cutting edge, made-for-TV experience via a heady mix of celebrity franchise owners, exotic locations and technological innovation.
"It's an incredible sport which just hasn't been structured correctly for the past 50-60 years and everyone just dismisses it as a recreational activity," league chief Adi K. Mishra told Reuters.
"We are going to launch with six franchises in the first quarter of next year. It's going to be a team of four - two male and two female bowlers.
"We want to take two lanes and put them in iconic locations around the world - Hudson Yards in New York, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a variety of different locations in Dubai and India."
The founder and CEO of sports tech firm League Sports Co did not go into detail about the format but said professional bowlers would compete in the core sport while celebrities would take part in auxiliary events, with teams collecting points throughout the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Betts bought the first announced franchise in May and the WBL pulled off another marketing coup when Kohli came on board as a strategic investor last month.
Weaving complementary programming featuring celebrity bowlers like Betts and Kohli around the core sport would make it an irresistible proposition for broadcasters, said Mishra.
"We already have many broadcasters lined up," he said.
"A lot of them believe they can bring in other influencers and celebrities."
Mishra and Kohli know each other through their joint ownership of a team in the E1 electric powerboat world championship, and the cricketer's fondness for bowling came as a pleasant surprise as the WBL was being in the planning stage.
"Over the years, I've met a lot of celebs who happen to be closet bowlers," Mishra said.
"We were speaking about various things about the team and it turned out that he has been bowling and watching it since he was 11-12.
"That was a big surprise for me and we wanted him to be part of this. Hopefully we'll get him to bowl when he has more time for it."
The first edition of the World Bowling League (WBL), backed by cricket icon Virat Kohli and baseball star Mookie Betts, will roll out with six franchises competing in iconic locations early next year.
The WBL is looking to transform a pastime for millions around the world into a cutting edge, made-for-TV experience via a heady mix of celebrity franchise owners, exotic locations and technological innovation.
"It's an incredible sport which just hasn't been structured correctly for the past 50-60 years and everyone just dismisses it as a recreational activity," league chief Adi K. Mishra told Reuters.
"We are going to launch with six franchises in the first quarter of next year. It's going to be a team of four - two male and two female bowlers.
"We want to take two lanes and put them in iconic locations around the world - Hudson Yards in New York, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a variety of different locations in Dubai and India."
The founder and CEO of sports tech firm League Sports Co did not go into detail about the format but said professional bowlers would compete in the core sport while celebrities would take part in auxiliary events, with teams collecting points throughout the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Betts bought the first announced franchise in May and the WBL pulled off another marketing coup when Kohli came on board as a strategic investor last month.
Weaving complementary programming featuring celebrity bowlers like Betts and Kohli around the core sport would make it an irresistible proposition for broadcasters, said Mishra.
"We already have many broadcasters lined up," he said.
"A lot of them believe they can bring in other influencers and celebrities."
Mishra and Kohli know each other through their joint ownership of a team in the E1 electric powerboat world championship, and the cricketer's fondness for bowling came as a pleasant surprise as the WBL was being in the planning stage.
"Over the years, I've met a lot of celebs who happen to be closet bowlers," Mishra said.
"We were speaking about various things about the team and it turned out that he has been bowling and watching it since he was 11-12.
"That was a big surprise for me and we wanted him to be part of this. Hopefully we'll get him to bowl when he has more time for it."