Indian cricketer Shubman Gill and Bollywood actress Preity G. Zinta are co-owners of the Mohali franchise in the IPL. They have invested in DRIVE FITT, a new gym network started by Australian businessmen Mark Sellar and Deke Smith. DRIVE FITT, which mixes fitness and cricket, is scheduled to debut in India in October. It offers full gym facilities along with round-the-clock cricket training facilities.
This October, the company will launch its first site in Gurgaon, and in November, it will establish a second store in Noida. Within the following three years, DRIVE FITT intends to open 300 franchises throughout India; 20 areas have already been chosen for the initial rollout.
“I am excited to bring DRIVE FITT to India. It represents a unique fusion of fitness and cricket, two passions that resonate deeply with me and many people in India. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment for all ages and fitness levels,” Zinta said in a statement.
The fitness company combines regular gym services with cricket training to create a unique fitness experience. Members will have access to group exercise courses, yoga studios, and instruction for cricket, all of which use techniques inspired by cricket. Together with Ryan Harris and Chris Lynn, two Australian cricket players who have joined as co-founders, Gill creates the brand’s products.
“DRIVE FITT addresses the lack of accessible, quality training facilities I experienced growing up. It integrates world-class gym and fitness facilities with cricket-infused training. Our goal is to help both aspiring cricketers and fitness enthusiasts excel on the field and in life,” Gill said.
Nikhil Kakkar, a former COO of Gold’s Gym, has been named COO of DRIVE FITT. With sixteen years of expertise at Gold’s Gym, Kakkar will be in charge of running the business and developing franchise opportunities.
“We are launching our flagship location in Gurgaon in October, followed by Noida. These first two are company-owned. We then plan to franchise the business across India, aiming to sell the first 20 locations quickly. Data suggests we could potentially have up to 800 locations in India, given the population and affordability. Our facility is open to everyone, not just aspiring cricketers,” Sellar, chairman and co-founder, DRIVE FITT, told Mint.
Sellar stressed that acquiring the first 20 franchises is the primary priority. Through our networks, particularly Nikhil’s connections, we’ve gotten a lot of interest. We plan to enroll the first 20 people as soon as possible before scaling up to 50, 100, and beyond.”
