Virat Kohli won't endorse a soft drink brand, here’s why

Indian captain Virat Kohli has turned down a multi-crore soft drink endorsement deal.  According to The Hindu, Kohli confirmed the fact that he turned down the offer as it didn’t find a place in his uncompromising training regime.

Kohli’s known for his commitment to fitness and leading by example. According to the report, Kohli said that he declined the offer for the simple reason that he does not consume aerated drinks.

This the reason he decided against extending his six-year deal with Pepsi. “If I myself won’t consume such things, I won’t urge others to consume it, just because I am getting money out of it,” Kohli is quoted as telling CNN-IBN. 

Kohli is not the first sportsperson make such a decision. Almost two decades ago, P Gopichand, currently the chief national badminton coach, made a similar decision and turned down a lucrative offer.

Incidentally, Kohli and Gopi joined hands recently to launch annual sports awards for those promoting excellence.