Virat Kohli to bat for Uber, appointed as first brand ambassador in India
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has been appointed as the first brand ambassador for tech-based cab aggregator platform Uber (India). The 29-year-old, who is the face of around 20 brands including sports brand Puma, beat Hindi film actor Shah Rukh Khan in terms of brand value, according to a report by Duff & Phelps, which was released a few months ago.
The cricketer is valued at $144 million against the actor’s $106 million, as per the report titled ‘Rise of the Millennials: India’s most valuable celebrity brands.’
Commenting on his association with Uber, Kohli said, “As a cricketer, I travel a lot and I have personally enjoyed the seamless experience of booking an Uber. It’s great to see how the company is using technology to revolutionise the way people move around cities, and is empowering millions by creating economic opportunities. I am very excited to join hands with a company that is so committed to people and cities they operate in.”
According to a press release from Uber, this is a first of its kind initiative across the Asia Pacific region.
Amit Jain, President, Uber India and South Asia, said, “Virat Kohli's commitment to India on and off the field is commendable - from bagging world titles for the country, to advocating positive change, he is invested in making a difference to the community at large. In Virat, we’ve found a partner who reflects the drive we share with everyday India, while embodying our commitment to serving the country. Today, we are the most-preferred ride-hailing service in this market and we will continue to invest and innovate in ways that will benefit our driver partners and riders.”
The statement adds Virat will be actively involved in a series of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by Uber India.