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Sachin Tendulkar has found ways to remain engaged with the sport, reports Shakya Mitra.
He may have disappointed millions of cricket fans across the globe when he announced his retirement in November 2013 after close to a quarter of a century, but even post-retirement, Sachin Tendulkar has found ways to remain engaged with the sport.
Last week, he launched his latest initiative, Sachin by Spartan, in Mumbai.
Sachin by Spartan is a cricket equipment and sportswear range, a collaboration between the cricketing legend and Spartan International.
"The game of cricket has given me much more than what I had imagined," he said.
"I was keen to be part of safeguarding and protecting the next generation of cricketers where the focus would be safety for players, accessibility and affordability for all."
The Sachin by Spartan range will feature three collections, starting with the Sachin range, moving up to the performance line and highlighted by a premium Sachin Signature edition, consistent across all cricket equipment and apparel.
Among the products currently available on the Spartan sports Web site are T-shirts (round-neck and polo), jackets, hoodies, bats, leg guards for batsmen and batting gloves.
The premium items on sale are the cricket bats, the most expensive being the ST Signature Players bat, which costs Rs 32,375.
The ST Performance Pro English Willow cricket bat is also a premium item and is priced at Rs 21,875.
"From a cricket equipment perspective," Kunal Sharma, managing director, Spartan Sports said, "nobody knows what it takes to succeed as a batsman better than Tendulkar. With a great eye for detail, style and fashion, he was the driver behind the clothing designs and the range that has been produced."
The equipment is currently available on the Spartan sports Web site and can be ordered online (spartansports.co.in).
The company is also working to collaborate with stores across the country, though the primary point of sale will be its Web site.
Tendulkar joined Spartan International in July 2016 as an investor and member of its advisory board.
This isn't the first time that a top sportsperson or celebrity has had a personalised range of clothing or equipment.
So what will be the X-factor for Sachin by Spartan?
"What will be unique about this range," says Paul Cochrane, general manager (media and marketing, Spartan Sports, "is simply Tendulkar's involvement with it."