Team India’s R. Ashwin helps Nike unveil innovative cricket shoes to dominate the game

Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting joins Team India Cricketer to launch Nike Lunardominate and Nike Lunaraccelerate.

In Bengaluru, India today, Nike, Team India player R. Ashwin and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting unveiled Nike’s most innovative cricket shoes to date – Nike Lunardominate (batting) and Nike Lunaraccelerate (bowling). The shoes offer a new level of performance that provides unrivaled comfort, support and stability while facing or delivering the ball.

The Nike Lunardominate and Nike Lunaraccelerate shoes come in a striking white, blue and orange colorway and feature Nike’s renowned Lunarlon technology, providing enhanced cushioning that delivers dynamic support with a soft, yet responsive ride. Nike Lunardominate (453 grams in a men’s size US 9.5) and Nike Lunaraccelerate (464 grams in a men’s size US 9.5) are also available in a black and volt colorway.

In keeping with Nike’s design approach, this latest evolution of cricket shoes started with athlete collaboration at both the grassroots and elite level of the game. The insights of some of India’s biggest cricket stars, including Team India cricketers Virat Kohli and Ashwin, and international players including Daniel Vettori, helped Nike’s design team to address specific demands and deliver the unique requirements of today’s batsmen and bowlers. Nike Lunardominate and Nike Lunaraccelerate provide a fully-integrated solution focused around stability, flexibility and breathability for today’s cricketers.

Key insights revealed a need for lightweight supportive footwear that is breathable enough to 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 and the batsmen looking to dominate the opponents attack.

“As a batsman, I’m looking for the right balance of support, stability and comfort from my shoes that enables me to focus 100% on my innings,” said Virat Kohli, Team India batsman. "Nike Lunardominate combines the latest technical benefits and design which give my game an edge. The margins for success at first class and test level cricket can be very small and so a comfortable well balanced shoe definitely helps.”

Some of Nike’s most successful footwear technologies, including Nike’s renowned Lunarlon, are incorporated into both shoes to enhance performance. To meet the demands of a faster and more technical game today, adaptive fit holds the midfoot in place for added stability.

"At Nike, everything we do starts with the athlete and our approach to the Nike Lunardominate and Nike Lunaraccelerate was no different – working closely with Virat Kohli and grassroots cricketers was invaluable to the design process,” said Cory McCullagh, senior footwear designer, Nike Inc. “The result provides batters and bowlers with our lightest and most innovative cricket shoes to date that will meet the demands of the elite and every day cricket player.”

Mesh ventilation on the uppers of both shoes helps increase breathability, even during long periods of play. The forefoot flex grooves on the outsoles provide enhanced flexibility of movement, while the strategically spaced spikes provide better grip and stability for players while bowling, batting or fielding.

The shoes are now available in India at Nike-branded retail and sports retailers.