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Bunty Sajdeh and Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup finally came to an end on November 19, with Australia emerging victorious, claiming their sixth title by defeating India in the final held in Ahmedabad. Following this, a notable partnership in Indian cricket has come to an end, with Virat Kohli and Bunty Sajdeh, the founder of Cornerstone, parting ways.
While the specific reason for the split remains unknown, reliable sources indicate that the former India captain is in the process of establishing his own company, with plans to register it soon. Notably, in 2020, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions entered the talent management arena through a partnership with Cornerstone, forming Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA). However, the cricketer’s association with Cornerstone remained independent, unaffected by the joint venture formed in 2020.
“Yes, Kohli and Bunty have parted ways after a very long and successful partnership. Over the years, there are a lot of other cricketers who’ve parted ways with Cornerstone. Rohit, KL Rahul, Ajinkya, Shubman and others. But Virat and Cornerstone were inseparable. Now, that relationship is over too,” an industry source was quoted as saying by CricketNext.
Beyond being a manager and founder overseeing Kohli’s commercial interests and brand presence off the field, Bunty was known as a close friend to the cricketer. The latter frequently accompanied him to major cricket events. Their partnership was marked by various deals with leading companies, including the notable INR 100-crore partnership with the leading sports brand Puma.
However, rueports suggest that Cornerstone might have given precedence to Kohli’s interests over those of other athletes, leading to their separation. Meanwhile, the Cornerstone had to part ways with athletes among Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill, and others who felt the company was primarily focused on Virat to the detriment of others. Regardless, the company still boasts a roster of star athletes, including PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yash Dhull.
