Kwan Entertainment to manage Shikhar Dhawan’s commercial associations

MUMBAI: Shikhar Dhawan, the 32-year-old Indian left-hand opening batsman has signed a three-year contract with KWAN Entertainment for managing the cricketer’s off-field professional associations including endorsements, live appearances, digital activations, and potential business opportunities.

Dhawan will join the sports portfolio of KWAN, which also includes cricketers such as Dinesh Karthik and Shubman Gill, tennis star Sania Mirza and squash sensation Dipika Pallikal.

“Sports is a key focus area for KWAN Entertainment, and our portfolio expansion is aimed at catering to the growing market demand in this space,” said Indranil Das Blah, founding partner and Co-CEO, KWAN Entertainment. “Shikhar is an established, bankable superstar who has several accomplishments at both club and country levels. We are delighted to have him on board as part of the KWAN family, and look forward to driving mutual growth for each other.”

Shikhar plays for the Indian national cricket team across all formats, and for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

“I am impressed by the (KWAN) team’s dedication and expertise, and am confident that this partnership will be highly successful,” Dhawan said.

Dhawan was earlier signed by Professional Management Group (PMG), India’s first sports marketing company co-founded by Sunil Gavaskar, for three years in 2016. However, Gavaskar had to shut down the player management wing in late 2017 after the conflict-of-interest row with the Indian cricket board.