What is the most common passion of all IPL players—other than cricket, of course? Food! A good number of them (current and former) have taken their passion for food to the next level and started their own restaurants with the underlying theme of serving great food to patrons in a comfortable, plush space.
Veterans such as Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, and Virender Sehwag ventured into the restaurant business too. Almost all the restaurants bear the signs of their passionate cricketing journey. Since the IPL season is on, read about these zealous cricketers-turned-restaurateurs and their restaurants, and don’t forget to keep score as you go along!
Zaheer Khan’s Dine Fine
(No points for guessing whose restaurant this could be!)
Zaheer Khan’s Hospitality Pvt Ltd started in 2005 with its first restaurant Dine Fine at Lullanagar in Pune. The restaurant is ably run by Zaheer Khan, his brother and his wife. The trio tossed around many business ideas before settling on the idea of opening a restaurant. The restaurant initially drew a crowd because of its celebrity status, but now its patrons visit for good food and ambience.
The trio also introduced the concept of a sports bar and lounge in Pune with Toss Sports Lounge at Phoenix Mall in 2013. Back then, the concept of a sports bar was prevalent only in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Raina Indian Restaurant
(Yes, yes, it’s Suresh Raina’s restaurant but any guesses where?)
Suresh Raina, who is not just passionate about food but about cooking too, ventured into the hospitality industry in 2023. He opened Raina Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam with the idea of bringing authentic Indian flavours to Europe. The restaurant provides good Indian food in a setting that resonates with food and sport.
Flying Catch Sports Café
(Any guesses whose restaurant this could be?)
Shikhar Dhawan’s sports bar, Flying Catch Sports Café, is located in Jumeirah, Dubai. It is named after Dhawan’s iconic flying catch that won India a match against England in 2018. The café serves nutritious meals and snacks and donates one percent of its revenue to the local sports programmes in Dubai. The interiors of the hotel boast cricket jerseys and other cricket equipment, along with an indoor cricket pitch complete with wickets, bats, and a ball for guests to indulge in a game. The café has other indoor sports as well for non-cricket fans, such as air hockey, video games, billiards, and table tennis.
Jaddu’s Food Field
(Obvious, but not so obvious!)
Ravindra Jadeja ventured into the food industry with Jaddu’s Food Field in 2012, three years after his debut in international cricket. Aptly named, the restaurant has an elaborate menu and serves all kinds of cuisines under one roof. Over a period of time, it has become a preferred choice for the people of Rajkot. Everybody who visits the restaurant will certainly find something of their choice. Oh, one more thing, you can get free desserts on the days Jadeja is playing a match and performing well.
One 8 Commune
(Any guesses? The clue lies in the first two words of the name.)
Virat Kohli got into the hospitality business with Nueva in RK Puram in Delhi. He later opened One 8 Commune in Gurugram in partnership with Ab InBev. The name of the restaurant bears Virat’s jersey number. With the idea of community and togetherness, One 8 commune is a restaurant chain that caters to all kinds of diners, from couples on a date to friends and family gatherings. The menu is inspired by Kohli’s vegetarian lifestyle and includes some of his favourites. The ambience of the restaurant is very chic, with comfortable and stylish sofas, intricately detailed chandeliers, etc.
Bonus read: Elevens
(Now, this restaurant is not owned by an IPL player but by a legendary cricketer who gave India its first taste of victory.)
Elevens opened in Patna in 2008. It is a cricket-themed restaurant that could delight every cricket-fanatic. Kapil Dev (yes, it is his restaurant), in his restaurant, serves his favourite Indian, Pan-Asian, and Continental cuisine. From the flags of different cricketing nations to the floor carpeted with faux grass, the interiors of the restaurant are all about cricket.
Sources:
https://mirchi.in; https://yourstory.com; https://www.tribuneindia.com; https://www.siasat.com; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com; https://www.khaleejtimes.com; https://secretdubai.co; https://www.royalchallengers.com; https://www.thehindubusinessline.com;; https://cosmeticbaba.com; https://www.tribuneindia.com
