Latest news with #Ganguly
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Ex-Puma India chief to build multi-brand sports empire with ₹600 crore
Abhishek Ganguly, who built Puma India from ₹20 crore to ₹3,900 crore during his 18-year tenure, is now planning to scale up multiple sports apparel brands to multi-million-dollar levels through his venture Agilitas Sports. The former Puma India head, who helped the German brand overtake Adidas for market leadership, is applying his growth strategies to build a portfolio of international and homegrown athletic brands in India's expanding sports market. In the near future, Agilitas aims to bring and build three international brands and one domestic brand in the sportswear category. 'We are building India's largest sports company. We will be very focused on sportswear—that's the only business I and the team understand,' Abhishek Ganguly, co-founder and CEO at Agilitas Sports, said. 'All four brands will be built with a very long-term view and at depth. The first two brands we feel have a minimum ₹2,000 crore opportunity in the next seven years.' One of the international brands Ganguly revealed he is scaling up in India is Italian sportswear label Lotto. It recently made a strategic foray into the country, spearheaded by Agilitas, with an ambitious five-year plan to achieve ₹1,000 crore in revenue. Agilitas holds exclusive rights for the Lotto brand in India, South Africa, and Australia. Founded in Italy over five decades ago, Lotto enters India with Leggenda, its premium sneaker line featuring designs from the '70s-'90s, now manufactured at Agilitas-acquired Mochiko Shoes. Over the next year, Lotto will expand into sportswear, apparel, and accessories, reinforcing its ambition to lead the next chapter of sportswear culture. But how does he avoid brand confusion while building multiple sports brands simultaneously through Agilitas and ensure each has distinct market positioning? Ganguly's strategy relies on product differentiation and distinct brand narratives rather than category separation, since all four brands operate in the same sportswear space. 'The offering will be very different from each of the brands. When we launch Lotto football, we will not do that in any other of our three brands,' said Ganguly. 'When we launch the Lotto tennis shoe, we will not do that in any of our three brands. The consumer stories and brand positioning will be very distinctly different.' Sportswear Market India's sportswear market is currently sized at over $10 billion and projected to reach $16.6 billion by 2033, with robust double-digit growth expected. Ganguly is competing with players like Nike, Adidas, and Puma, especially given their massive marketing budgets and brand recognition. Ganguly believes India's large, under-penetrated sportswear market offers room for multiple players to succeed, contrasting with his earlier Puma experience when the market was smaller and resources were limited. "The situation in India is totally different. The size of the market is very large and there are very few players. It's a 15-18 per cent growth business in the next 8-10 years,' he noted. But simultaneously scaling up multiple brands requires significant capital—a challenge Ganguly anticipated. He had the strategic foresight in securing substantial funding upfront rather than pursuing piecemeal fundraising rounds. The firm raised ₹600 crore of capital in the first year of setting it up. 'We have capitalized ourselves very well,' he noted. "We don't need to raise ₹1,000 crore every year. We're not creating brands at a price point where we are selling at low gross margins. We are very well thought through. We are focusing on improving efficiency." Pricing and Manufacturing "We as a country need to get pride back in our own manufacturing. We are better and definitely equal to some of the other Far Eastern Asian peers. This is very proudly made in India and I can dare say it is better than lots made in China and Vietnam." He is positioning Indian manufacturing as equal to global standards while using value pricing to build long-term customer loyalty rather than competing on premium positioning. What is also playing a key role for Agilitas in its ambitions is the acquisition of Mochiko Shoes, one of India's largest sports footwear manufacturers, for an undisclosed amount in 2023. Mochiko, which was established in 2008, had reported revenue of ₹642 crore in FY2023 and was estimated to grow 30 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y). 'It is a cash-generative asset,' he said.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Not KL Rahul! Sourav Ganguly Calls This 36-Year-Old A Special Player
Sourav Ganguly has commended Ravindra Jadeja's stellar performance in England, emphasising his key role in partnerships. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that Ravindra Jadeja has been exceptional in the ongoing tour of England, with the star allrounder playing crucial roles in building partnerships with top-order batters on most occasions and in a desperate situation, with two tailenders as well. Down and out at 112/8, Jadeja (61 not out off 181) took the match deep with the help of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah (5 off 54) and Mohammed Siraj (4 off 30) before ending up on the wrong side of the result in a match for the ages. In an extended afternoon session, Jadeja batted alongside Bumrah and Siraj to take the visitors to 30 runs shy of the winning target of 193. Ganguly was all praise for Jadeja for his brilliant fight that kept India in the hunt in the Lord's Test. 'Jadeja has been exceptional, he is going to continue to play for India as long as he bats and performs like this. He has been around for a long time. He has played some 80 Tests and more than 200 ODIs," Ganguly said while speaking to the media at an event in Mumbai. 'You can see him batting, bowling and fielding. He is a special player, and his batting has improved over the years with experience. He is a special player and a very important part of this team," Ganguly added. It was Jadeja's fourth fifty in a row and came in the most trying circumstances with India staring at a big loss to England. Jadeja's effort created a glimmer of hope for India. With the last batting pair of the allrounder and Nitish Reddy in the centre, India struggled to 95/7 after the first hour of play. The track was playing its tricks, and Jadeja and Reddy looked to defend rather than counterattack. England skipper Ben Stokes, the warrior that he is, bowled a nine-over spell during which Reddy drove him through the cover to claim India's first boundary in 80 deliveries. Get latest Cricket news, live score and match results on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 10:17 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
India should have won Lord's Test with kind of quality in dressing room
Former skipper Sourav Ganguly is disappointed that despite exceptional talent and quality in their dressing room, India ended on the wrong side of the result in the third Test at Lord's, saying a better batting show from the top order would have put the side ahead in the five-match series against England. Chasing a gettable 193 on the fifth day, India fell short by 22 runs to now trail the series 1-2 albeit the splendid rearguard action did earn the team some praise. "A little bit disappointed with the way India batted in this series, they should have got this 190," remarked Ganguly at the Indian Racing League & F4 India Championship event here on Tuesday. "When you saw Jadeja fight and score the runs, batting quality in this team and they will be more disappointed then I am because it was an opportunity to get 2-1 up in the series against England. "I am sure that they will be disappointed not getting to 190 especially with the quality of batsmanship they have in that dressing room." Ganguly said had the top-order batter applied a bit better, the result would have ben different. Yashasvi Jaiswal could not open his account while Shubman Gill (6) and Rishabh Pant (9) could not go into double-digit scores. KL Rahul fought at the top with his 39 but Ravindra Jadeja (61 not out) was left stranded. "If there was even a little bit of fight from the top, this game would have been India's match," said Ganguly. The former BCCI chief was all praise for Jadeja for his exceptional fight that kept India in the hunt. "Jadeja has been exceptional, he is going to continue to play for India as long as he bats and performs like this. "He has been around for a long time. He has played some 80 Test matches and more than 200 one-day games. You can see him batting, bowling, and fielding. He is a special player and his batting has really improved over the years with the experience. He is a special player and very important part of this team.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
If there was a little bit of fight at the top, this game was India's: Ganguly
Mumbai: Having gone toe-to-toe for most of the game, the manner of India's defeat in the third Test in Lord's is really heartbreaking. Heading into the fourth innings chase, the momentum was with the Shubman Gill's young side. The bowlers had come with an awe-inspiring display with the spinners superbly backing the early inroads made by the pace battery. Racing team owners Sourav Ganguly, actors John Abraham (left) and Arjun Kapoor (right). (AFP) In the end the bowlers again put up such a valiant fight with the bat but the Indian supporters were left to rue what could have been if the specialist batters had also shown similar resolve. Brilliant until the second innings at Lord's, the top order floundered at a crucial stage to miss a golden chance to put India 2-1 up in this riveting Anderson-Tendulkar series. With just 196 to get, the visitors collapsed to 84/7 and India lost the game by 22 runs. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly pointed out that a little bit of fight from the top-order would have clinched the game. Unfortunately, except for a 39 by KL Rahul, the other specialist batters crumbled in the pressure situation. Karun Nair got 14 while Shubman Gill, Yashavi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant failed to get into double figures. 'A little bit disappointed (by the defeat) because the way India batted so far in this series so far they should have got 190. The batting quality in this team is absolutely brilliant and they will be more disappointed than I am because there was an opportunity to go 2-1 up in the series against England with two more Test matches to go. I am sure they have left Lord's disappointed not getting 190, especially with the quality of batters in the dressing room,' said Ganguly who was in Mumbai on Tuesday to attend an Indian Racing League event as the owner of the Kolkata Royal Tigers franchise. 'We just needed two partnerships to win and (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Mohammed) Siraj's partnerships showed that if there was a little bit of fight at the top, this game was India's,' said Ganguly. Having led the team to 21 wins in 49 Tests, Ganguly is one of India's most successful captains. He has been in the thick of the battle many times, with a memorable 1-1 drawn series in England in 2002. The 113-Test veteran was in Birmingham during the second Test and got to see the young captain Gill go about his job, scoring a double and a hundred while leading India to win. But, Lord's tested Gill's leadership especially during the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the England openers. 'He will handle it (when the heat is on) in his own way, he will learn. He is a young captain, he is only three Tests old. He has done phenomenally as a batsman. This is the best I have seen him bat away from home. First hundred in Headingley and then back to back hundreds at Birmingham so as a batsman he has improved immensely in Test matches away from home. White ball he was always a very good player. In captaincy he will learn, no one comes as a complete captain, he did well in Birmingham so he will get better, you have got to give him time. He is a young captain,' said Ganguly. Going into the fourth Test, the team management faces the dilemma of Bumrah's selection considering his workload management. In the two Tests he has played in (first and third), Bumrah has picked five-wicket hauls in both. 'Whether he (Bumrah) plays the next Test match I can't say from here because it depends on his body and how the team management wants to handle him. But obviously the next two Tests are very important for India, they are 2-1 down. But having said that they won in Birmingham without Bumrah, there are two sides to it. They have nine days, they have a lot of time, hopefully he will recover and get fit for the Test match,' said Ganguly. Even though off-hand he couldn't think of India making changes to the team for the next Test, Ganguly said captain Gill should find a way to play Kuldeep Yadav. 'I would have played him because at the end of the day you need 20 wickets to win Test matches,' he said. Even while praising both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja's heroic performances in the Lord's Test, Ganguly reiterated his point on Kuldeep. 'I think they have to find a place for Kuldeep somewhere, how they do it they will have to see.'
India Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
India should have chased 193: Sourav Ganguly disappointed after Lord's Test defeat
Sourav Ganguly expressed disappointment after India failed to cross the finish line in the third Test against England at Lord's Cricket Ground. On Monday, the Three Lions secured the narrowest victory by just 22 runs at the Home of Cricket, taking a 2-1 lead in the three-match 193, India were bowled out for 170 in 74.5 overs. Ganguly said that, considering India's strong batting performance earlier in the series, he was disappointed to see the batting little bit disappointed with the way India batted in this series, they should have got this 190,' Ganguly said at the Indian Racing League & F4 India Championship on Tuesday.'Jadeja has been exceptional' Ganguly was also impressed with Ravindra Jadeja's performance at Lord's. Jadeja scored 72 runs in the first innings and followed it up with a gritty 61-run knock in the second innings. In the second innings, Jadeja was left stranded at the non-striker's end when Shoaib Bashir dismissed Mohammed Siraj, bringing the match to an end.'When you saw Jadeja fight and score the runs, batting quality in this team and they will be more disappointed then I am because it was an opportunity to get 2-1 up in the series against England.'Jadeja has been exceptional, he is going to continue to play for India as long as he bats and performs like this.''He has been around for a long time. He has played some 80 Test matches and more than 200 one-day games. You can see him batting, bowling, and fielding. He is a special player and his batting has really improved over the years with the experience. He is a special player and very important part of this team,' Ganguly fourth Test is scheduled to start on July 23 at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester as India look to draw level in the series.- EndsMust Watch
