Virat Kohli's jersey sold at INR 40 lakhs, MS Dhoni's and Rohit Sharma's bat sold at this value in KL Rahul's charity auction
Published - 24 Aug 2024, 11:29 AM | Updated - 25 Aug 2024, 11:16 AM
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When it comes to cricket, the sport has the power to generate unprecedented amounts of revenue for any charity. It proved right again when star India cricketer KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty hosted a charity auction named 'Cricket for Charity' on Friday (August 23).
The memorabilia of some of the bigger names in Indian cricket like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma were there in the auction for this noble cause and they fetched some high amounts as well.
The auction was held in Mumbai and was aimed to support the Vipla Foundation's mission to provide quality education to the needy and deprived children. The charity is believed to be a long-term goal for KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty and one of their dreams.
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Virat Kohli's jersey sold at INR 40 lakhs
The auction turned out to be a huge success for the star pair of KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty, raising an astounding amount of INR 1.93 crores. It is a reflection of how sports can drive a change in society.
Among all of the memorabilia, Virat Kohli's jersey was sold for a staggering amount of INR 40 lakhs, which highlights the India star's brand value in the market. Not only his jersey but Virat Kohli's gloves were also sold for a huge amount of INR 28 lakhs.
Virat Kohli's India teammate Rohit Sharma was not far behind as well. Rohit's bat fetched INR 24 lakhs. Meanwhile, former India captain MS Dhoni also contributed his bit to the auction. Dhoni's bat was sold for INR 13 lakhs.
MS Dhoni's bat for INR 11 lakhs in KL Rahul's charity auction
Although Dhoni played his last international match almost five years ago, his brand value hasn't taken too much of a hit. Dhoni is still regarded as a huge star in Indian cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter is still an active player in the IPL for his team Chennai Super Kings.
Meanwhile, former India head coach Rahul Dravid's bat fetched INR 11 lakhs in the auction. KL Rahul himself contributed to the auction with his jersey which was sold at INR 11 lakhs.
While speaking about the cause, both KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty insisted that the cause was their long-term dream as it helped in uplifting the underprivileged and differently-abled children.
“Rahul and I are thrilled to announce our first charity auction, ‘Cricket for a Cause,’ to benefit the Vipla Foundation,” Athiya Shetty said during the auction as quoted by Times of India.
Rahul too was pleased with the results of the auction. “The proceeds from this auction will go directly towards supporting the Vipla Foundation's special school for hearing-impaired and intellectually disabled children, a cause that is incredibly close to my heart,” Rahul said.
KL Rahul's next assignment
KL Rahul is currently preparing for India's two-match home Test series against Bangladesh which will begin on September 19, 2024, in Chennai. Rahul was recently spotted having intense net sessions. He is likely to bat at No. 5 in the series and will also be key during India's tour of Australia later this year.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will also return to the field during the series against Bangladesh. After the Bangladesh series, India will play another home Test series against New Zealand.
