Adidas Secures Rishabh Pant Endorsement, Cements No.1 Position In India’s Sport Sponsorship Market 

Sportswear and equipment behemoth adidas has secured a multi-year endorsement with Indian wicket-keeper and batsman Rishabh Pant.

Prior to this deal, the 27-year-old cricket star known for his energetic on-field performances, had endorsed the popular German brand from 2016 to 2019. He joins the likes of spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav, boxer Nikhat Zareen, javelin thrower Sumit Antil and table tennis player Manika Batra, who have been endorsing adidas in India.   

Following the deal, Rishabh Pant, shared, “I am excited to be partnering with adidas, a brand I truly admire. I believe we have a shared vision of inspiring athletes and people at large, to trust themselves and never give up while marching towards the goal. I’m looking forward to this journey with adidas, empowering the next generation of athletes and making a meaningful impact in the world of sports.”

Neelendra Singh, General Manager, adidas India, added, “At adidas, we have always stood by athletes through every step of their journey—supporting them in their moments of triumph and resilience alike. Rishabh’s fearless spirit, determination, and unwavering commitment to the game make him a true embodiment of what adidas stands for. We are excited to welcome him back to the adidas family and support his continued success.”

Under the deal, Pant will feature on the brand’s marketing campaigns and various initiatives, in a role similar to cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.

According to ASN data, adidas (49.6%, US$52.3m+) is by far the largest player for its category in the India’s sponsorship market since Q222, with an average quarterly investment of almost US$4.4m during this period, and its biggest deals being a long-term deal with the Indian national cricket team (~US$8.5m) and Rohit Sharma (US$562k).  The recent deal with Rishabh Pant further cements its dominance over Puma (24.1%, ~US$25.8m) its closest rival there in the sponsorship game.