KL Rahul: Bringing his fashion A-game to Puma

In 2016, India were playing West Indies in a two-T20I series in Florida, an unusual venue for a cricket match. In the US, the game remains exotic (except for a growing number of Indian expatriates, of course). So, the game’s acronym was supposed to be a promotional effort. For someone watching cricket for the first time, KL Rahul must have been different that day for two reasons. A: He scored the most runs in that game (116 off just 51 balls) even though his team lost by one run. Two: Her hairstyle. Rahul looked like a West Indian player with cornrow braids. Team coach Anil Kumble suffered a minor setback.

Beckham inspiration

“My mantra has always been: ‘Try things. If nothing happens, I don’t mind’, 29-year-old Rahul says of his fashion choices, ahead of the launch of Puma’s 1Der, an athletic range called He designed with the sporting brand, which was released on September 30. This mantra applies to his life as well. At school, Rahul, the son of two professors, was in flip-flops and dyed hair. He was a rebellious teenager. But it wasn’t just to piss people off. An ardent fan of David Beckham, he had an idea of ​​how he wanted to appear even at the time. Following figures like Justin Bieber and Travis Scott “I was more interested in his lifestyle, and less about football,” says the cricketer.

And, he did. Two years ago, Rahul launched his street-wear label, Gully, with retail partner Zeco Online. 1DER, too, is an opportunity to express their fashion ideas and the range (recently released on Flipkart) in bright colors of orange and blue, cap, and low-boot sneakers (crafted in leather, in mesh upper) Are included. An apparel line that includes hoodies, pants, and the like. “It was great working with the Puma team [he’s been associated with the brand since 2018]. I will specifically discuss the design and colors for the sneakers, because I am a huge sneakerhead,” he says.

quote in ink

Fashion is his second love after cricket. “These days, with social media, you can see what people all over the world are wearing. And, I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s great. But I can do something cool by pairing it with something else. ‘,” he says, adding that his philosophy in fashion and life is simple: If it makes you feel good, don’t hold yourself back from doing it. “As long as I’m not bothering or harming anyone, I can do whatever I like.”

For example, her mother was surprised when she got her first tattoo (feathers on her back) at the age of 16. He also gave her a bar of soap to wash, and when he told her it was permanent, she was upset. Rahul, who got his mother’s name Rajeshwari tattooed on his right wrist, says, “Every tattoo has a unique story. They serve as reminders.” This is especially true for the forearm of her right hand – it reads, ‘Deshi Basara‘ – A Motivational Mantra by Christopher Nolan the dark Knight Rises.

According to the film’s composer Hans Zimmer, ‘Deshi Basara‘ roughly translates to ‘rise’. After a terrific Test debut in Melbourne, Rahul returned with a scintillating century within a week in Sydney. This year too, he was among India’s leading performers in their Test win in England. This happened after being dropped from the Test team for some time. His journey has seen many ups and downs. Rahul concluded, “I didn’t want it any other way.”

1DER by PUMA priced between ₹1,499 and ₹4,999 is available on Flipkart, puma.com and select PUMA stores.