Business · Companies · 11 hrs ago
KL Rahul invests in sports retailer PlayBlue ahead of Bengaluru launch
Cricketer KL Rahul has joined PlayBlue as an investor and brand ambassador.
The sports retailer plans to open its first flagship store and launch its app on November 14 in Bengaluru, India.
The 20,000-square-foot store will offer products from more than 75 sports and lifestyle brands, along with services such as footwear testing and racquet stringing.
Its rooftop will include a pickleball court, futsal turf and a cricket net, as PlayBlue aims to create a place for shopping and sports activities.
The company raised $2.7 million in seed funding in July and says it plans to build a network of more than 100 stores in 25 Indian cities over the next five years.
The Bengaluru store and app launch are the next steps in that expansion.
PlayBlue has named India cricketer KL Rahul as an investor and brand ambassador ahead of its Bengaluru flagship store and app launch.
The 20,000-square-foot store is set to open on November 14 on 80 Feet Road in Bengaluru.
The store will offer products from more than 75 sports and lifestyle brands, alongside sports services and activity spaces.
PlayBlue aims to expand to more than 100 stores across 25 Indian cities over the next five years.
The company raised $2.7 million in seed funding in July, according to Inc42.
- Who
- PlayBlue and India cricketer KL Rahul.
- What
- Rahul has joined the sports retailer as an investor and brand ambassador ahead of its flagship store and app launch.
- When
- The partnership was announced on November 12, 2026; the store and app are set to launch on November 14.
- Where
- PlayBlue’s flagship store is on 80 Feet Road in Koramangala, Bengaluru.
- Why
- PlayBlue says it aims to make quality sports products more accessible and build a stronger sporting culture.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
PlayBlue raised $2.7 million in a seed funding round, according to Inc42.
PlayBlue announced KL Rahul as an investor and brand ambassador.
PlayBlue is set to open its Bengaluru flagship store and launch its mobile app.
- Investor and ambassador
- KL Rahul
- Flagship store area
- 20,000 square feet
- Store location
- 80 Feet Road, Koramangala, Bengaluru
- Brands at flagship
- More than 75 sports and lifestyle brands
- Expansion target
- More than 100 stores across 25 Indian cities over five years
- Seed funding
- $2.7 million (₹25.7 crore), raised in July
3 sources
What people are saying
What I like about PlayBlue is its vision of making quality sports products more accessible while building a stronger sporting culture. PlayBlue is creating a space that makes that journey easier and more exciting
We’re building the store we wanted to walk into ourselves. Having KL Rahul on board as both an investor and our ambassador gives us a partner who knows what the right gear means to someone who plays
Having worked closely with KL over the years in the IPL, partnering with him for a third time at PlayBlue is truly special. He is one of the most versatile and accomplished cricketers India has ever seen, and that versatility, along with his effortless style on and off the field, is exactly what PlayBlue stands for