Virat Kohli always fantasized about one day having his own signature shoe and that has been possible with the help of ‘ONE8’. Personalized shoes are considered as a mark of their legacy for the biggest athletes of sports such as LeBron James and Rafael Nadal. Today, that childhood dream has officially crossed the boundary line. As the co-founder of the Indian sportswear startup Agilitas Sports, Kohli took full creative control to design a cricket shoe exactly the way he wanted, built from scratch to match his relentless standards.

The launch of this high-performance footwear is even crazier due to the focussed and obsessive journey it took to finalise on a specific design. Virat Kohli’s work ethic and desire for perfection in the game has been transformed for the design of the shoe as well. The cricket icon reportedly rejected the first 17 iterations presented by his development team. He was very specific in the kind of style he wanted to present to his customers and he thoroughly went through every single detail regarding the design.

Virat Kohli’s ONE8 launch marks a defining moment for Indian sportswear innovation

The final result of this perfectionist pursuit is ONE8, widely considered the most advanced cricket shoe ever engineered. Built in partnership with Agilitas and manufactured leveraging the massive industrial capabilities of Mochiko, the shoe is tailored specifically for the great Virat Kohli. The ONE8 shoe is packed with cutting-edge athletic technology designed to optimize both performance and safety. It has a customized, lightweight spike plate optimized for rapid acceleration, sharp turns, and maximum grip on both turf and outfield. It also has an advanced energy-return midsole engineered to absorb the high-impact shocks of fast bowling and heavy running between the wickets.

After surviving 17 rounds of rejection, the perfected model was finally ready. To seal its legacy, Kohli named the shoe "18"—the iconic number that has defined his jersey, his career, and his identity on the global stage. It was the 18th edition of the IPL, when Virat Kohli finally laid his hands on the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This launch marks a massive shift in India’s sportswear landscape.It is a premium, high-tech piece of athletic armor designed by an Indian icon, made by Indian hands. The biggest point of marketing for this brand would be the fact that Virat Kohli has played all across the world and his advice for engineering a shoe to a cricketer’s comfort is absolutely priceless.