KL Rahul invests in PlayBlue, joins as brand ambassador ahead of flagship store launch

Indian cricketer KL Rahul has joined PlayBlue, a new multi-brand sports retail venture, as an investor and brand ambassador ahead of the company's flagship store and app launch on November 14.

The partnership marks PlayBlue's entry into India's growing sports retail market, with plans to create an integrated platform combining sporting goods, expert guidance and experiential retail.

The company's 20,000 sq ft flagship store, located on 80 Feet Road in Bengaluru's Koramangala area, will house more than 75 sports and lifestyle brands across apparel, footwear, sporting equipment, accessories, recovery products and sports nutrition. Spread across three retail floors, the facility will also feature a café and a rooftop recreational space.


As an investor, Rahul will have a stake in the company's growth, while his role as brand ambassador will involve representing PlayBlue across marketing campaigns and consumer initiatives.

"Whether it's finding the right bat, the right pair of shoes or the right training gear, these things can make a real difference to how you play and perform. What I like about PlayBlue is its vision of making quality sports products more accessible while building aa stronger sporting culture," Rahul said.

PlayBlue co-founder Satyam Trivedi said the association was particularly special, as he had previously worked with Rahul during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to co-founder Jayam Vora, the venture aims to address gaps in India's fragmented sports retail market by bringing product discovery, expert assistance and equipment testing under one roof.

The store will offer interactive services such as gait analysis, treadmill-based footwear testing and cricket bat sensors to help customers make informed purchasing decisions. Other services will include racquet stringing, bat knocking and cycle servicing.

The rooftop recreational area, named The Playground, will feature a pickleball court, one-on-one futsal turf and a cricket net equipped with a bowling machine. It will also host community classes, recovery sessions and sports club events.

The facility will additionally house Play Cafe x Kenko, an in-house café and nutrition space designed to combine food, wellness and community engagement.

Alongside the physical store, the PlayBlue app will offer quick deliveries across Bengaluru and a two-day delivery timeline for orders elsewhere in India.

Founded by Satyam Trivedi and Jayam Vora, PlayBlue plans to expand its retail network to more than 100 stores across 25 Indian cities over the next five years.