The insights of some of India’s biggest cricket stars, including Team India cricketers Virat Kohli and R. Ashwin, and international players including Daniel Vettori, helped footwear major Nike’s design team address specific demands.
Thus was born a new pair of Nike’s cricket shoes, the Nike Lunardominate for batting and Nike Lunaraccelerate for bowling. Unveiled by R. Ashwin and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, the shoes provide comfort, support and stability while facing or delivering the ball, the company said.
The Nike Lunardominate and Nike Lunaraccelerate shoes come in white, blue and orange and feature Nike’s Lunarlon technology.
In keeping with Nike’s design approach, the cricket shoes were developed with athlete collaboration at the grassroots and elite level of the game, the company said in a statement.
Key insights from cricketers revealed a need for lightweight supportive footwear that are breathable and can withstand long periods on the field, at the crease or delivering lengthy spells of bowling. Stability was another critical demand, particularly for the fast bowling community, a statement added.
Virat Kohli, Team India batsman, noted that the margins for success at the first class and test level are very small and a comfortable shoe helps. The shoes are now available in India at Nike branded retail outlets and sports retailers.