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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 23, 2026 | The Indian Eye 58

Beyond the Boundary:

When Superstars Meet Spreadsheets

A famous name can create interest, but lasting success depends on good products, reliable service,

experienced managers and careful financial planning. Cricketers also need to understand how

much time they can give a business, especially while they are still playing

ARCHAN MEHTA
A
brilliant cover drive can win a
cricket match, but running a
successful business requires a
different set of skills. As internation-
al cricketers move beyond brand en-
dorsements and invest in restaurants,
retail and start-ups, their journeys Virat Kohli’s fine-dining restaurant, Nueva, struggled with high costs and a limited target audience (File photo)
offer an important lesson: being a
great cricketer does not automatically
make someone a successful entrepre- through Dev Musco Lighting, spe- pensive property leases put pressure because a name is famous can prove
neur. Famous players have several ad- cialising in stadium lighting. on the business. costly.
vantages, including popularity, public However, there are also sev- Virat Kohli’s restaurant ven- The lessons from these ventures
support and money to invest. But a eral examples of businesses that tures show why businesses some- are clear. A famous name can create
business can survive only if it attracts failed despite having famous crick- times need to change direction. His interest, but lasting success depends
repeat customers, controls costs, eters behind them. Sachin Ten- fine-dining restaurant, Nueva, strug- on good products, reliable service,
maintains quality and runs smoothly. dulkar’s restaurants, Tendulkar’s gled with high costs and a limited tar- experienced managers and careful
A famous name may bring crowds on and Sachin’s, attracted attention get audience. He later backed one8 financial planning. Cricketers also
opening day, but keeping customers when they opened but eventually commune, a more casual restaurant need to understand how much time
coming back is the real challenge. shut down. Sourav Ganguly’s The and social dining concept, in part- they can give a business, especially
Successful cricket-led business- Food Pavilion in Kolkata also closed nership with True Palate Hospitality. while they are still playing profession-
es combine star power with strong after struggling to sustain the busi- The business relied on experienced ally. Some may be better off invest-
management. Sri Lanka’s Mahela ness. High operating costs and the professionals to manage daily oper- ing in established teams rather than
Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakka- challenge of maintaining consistent ations, while Kohli’s name helped managing daily operations them-
ra partnered chef Dharshan Munida- service proved difficult. Customers attract customers. Other cricketers selves. Others may succeed by focus-
sa to build the Ministry of Crab, fo- may visit a restaurant because a fa- have followed more focused ap- ing on one city or serving a specific
cusing on fresh seafood and quality. mous player owns it, but they return proaches. Zaheer Khan developed group of customers. In business, just
England’s Stuart Broad and Harry only if the food, service and prices ZK’s Dine Fine and Toss Sports as in cricket, patience, planning and
Gurney grew The Cat & Wickets Pub meet their expectations. Virender Lounge in Pune, while Suresh Raina the ability to adapt matter as much as
Company, with Gurney taking charge Sehwag’s Favourites also collapsed explored Indian dining in Amster- talent. Fame may help a cricketer win
of daily operations after retirement. amid legal disputes involving its op- dam. Mohammed Siraj also entered the toss, but only sound business de-
Others chose to invest rather than erating partners. The case highlights the restaurant business in Hyder- cisions can keep the scoreboard mov-
manage. Steve Smith bought a 10% the importance of clear agreements, abad. These ventures underline an ing. When the cameras leave and the
stake in online mattress brand Koa- regular financial checks and account- important point: a business has a applause fades, the real test begins.
la for AUD $100,000 in 2015. Ricky ability. Smaaash Entertainment, better chance of succeeding when it
Ponting partnered winemaker Ben which had Tendulkar as an investor, understands its customers and keeps Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
Riggs for Ponting Wines, while Ka- expanded rapidly but later faced seri- its ambitions in line with its resourc- telling compelling stories about ath-
pil Dev entered sports infrastructure ous financial trouble as debt and ex- es. Expanding everywhere simply letes, teams, and the world of cricket.

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