Cricket Star Virat Kohli Joins E1 as a Team Owner
The Indian icon joins Tom Brady, Rafa Nadal, Didier Drogba, Sergio Perez and Steve Aoki as a team owner in next year’s all-electric raceboat championship.
Virat Kohli and sports tech entrepreneur Adi K Mishra have been announced as the high-profile principals of The Blue Rising, the seventh team to confirm for the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat series.
The world’s first all-electric raceboat championship is scheduled to start in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in February 2024, with further events in the Middle East and Europe including stops in Venice, Monaco and Rotterdam.
Former India captain and ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, Kohli is widely recognised as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, while his Instagram following of 260 million illustrates his immense popularity in India and among cricket and sports fans.
“I want to inspire people to have a competitive spirit and to raise awareness about sustainability issues, something I’m becoming more and more passionate about as we build a family. I can’t wait to cheer for our male and female pilots racing for our team,” said Kohli, 34.
“I’m looking forward to lining up against the likes of Tom Brady, Rafa Nadal, Sergio Perez, Steve Aoki and Didier Drogba. We’re going electric, we’re going flying over the water and we’re going to try to win it for The Blue Rising!”
Kohli’s enormous Instagram following is almost four times the combined Instagram audiences of his E1 rivals: Tom Brady (American football), Rafa Nadal (tennis), Sergio Perez (F1), Didier Drogba (football) and DJ Steve Aoki. The Venice Racing Team was the first team confirmed.
Rodi Basso, co-founder and CEO of UIM E1 World Championship, said: “The start line for the first season of the UIM E1 World Championship is filling up fast and our seventh team is a big one for us. Virat Kohli’s passion for sustainability, combined with Adi’s ability to drive success, will make The Blue Rising team a force to be reckoned with on the water.
“I’m confident they will bring positive energy, fierce competitiveness and natural creativity to our championship. And there’s no doubt their involvement will attract millions of new fans and help us deliver an even bigger impact through sport and purpose.”
This article was first published on yachtstyle.co
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