Adidas vs Puma Cricket Shoes 2026: Which Brand Grips Better?

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Last updated: March 2026 — Prices verified from Amazon India. All assessments based on hands-on use, multiple surface testing, and community feedback from Indian club cricketers.

Cricket shoes are not glamorous. Nobody posts Instagram photos of their spikes. But ask any serious cricketer about their worst on-field moments and you will hear at least one story about slipping at the crease, losing footing in the outfield, or developing a blister from poorly fitted boots during a long bowling spell. The right cricket shoe matters enormously, and in 2026, Adidas and Puma are the two global sports giants fighting for the feet of serious Indian cricketers.

Both brands bring serious technology, global manufacturing, and international team endorsements to the table. Both make dedicated cricket shoes — not repurposed running shoes or generic sports footwear. This is a real head-to-head between genuine cricket shoe specialists, and the differences are meaningful enough to affect your game.

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Brand Overview

Adidas Cricket Shoes

Adidas entered cricket footwear seriously with the Incurza range, a product line designed explicitly for cricket's unique demands: lateral movement, bowling run-ups, extended standing at slip cordon, and sudden explosive running between wickets. The Incurza and the newer CricADEX range feature multiple stud configurations, Adidas's proprietary ADIPRENE cushioning in the heel, and a last (foot shape) designed for the wider foot common among South Asian cricketers.

Adidas cricket shoes are worn by international players across India, England, Australia, and the West Indies. In India specifically, Adidas has strong distribution through their own retail stores, multi-brand sports chains like Decathlon and Sports Station, and Amazon India — making them one of the most accessible premium cricket shoe brands in the country.

Price range: ₹2,500–₹8,000 for the full Adidas cricket range in India.

Puma Cricket Shoes

Puma's cricket footwear is anchored in India by one overwhelming association: Virat Kohli. The RCB connection and Kohli's long-standing Puma partnership have made Puma cricket shoes aspirational items for millions of Indian fans. The Puma 19.1, Puma 22, and the newer Puma Future cricket ranges feature German engineering, Puma's IGNITE foam cushioning technology, and distinctive design aesthetics that stand out on the field.

Puma's cricket shoes are used by international players across multiple national teams and are a fixture in the kits of IPL franchises. In India, Puma has invested heavily in retail presence — their dedicated Puma stores, online channels, and cricket-specific collections make them highly visible and accessible.

Price range: ₹2,500–₹8,500 for the Puma cricket shoe range in India.

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Head-to-Head Comparison Table

Category	Adidas	Puma	Winner
Grip on Turf	Excellent — multi-stud design	Excellent — aggressive stud pattern	Draw
Grip on Matting	Good — rubber sole variants available	Good — rubber sole and soft stud options	Draw
Cushioning Technology	ADIPRENE heel cushioning	IGNITE foam full-length	Puma (full-length cushion)
Upper Material (Entry)	Synthetic leather	Synthetic leather	Draw
Upper Material (Premium)	Full-grain leather	Full-grain leather with mesh	Draw
Ankle Support	Low-cut standard; some mid-cut options	Low-cut standard; some mid-cut	Draw
Breathability	Mesh panels on CricADEX range	Mesh inserts on 22 range	Draw
Spike Count (Full Spike)	6-spike and 9-spike configurations	6-spike standard	Adidas (more options)
Price Range	₹2,500–₹8,000	₹2,800–₹8,500	Adidas (lower entry)
Durability	Very good — holds shape over a season	Good — upper wears faster on some models	Adidas
Endorsements	International teams, India A players	Virat Kohli, RCB, multiple IPL players	Puma (India recognition)
India Availability	Excellent	Excellent	Draw

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Adidas Cricket Shoes: Models and Price Range

Adidas offers a well-structured cricket shoe range that covers multiple surface types and playing budgets.

Entry to Mid Range: ₹2,500–₹5,000

• Adidas Incurza 2.0 — ₹2,500–₹3,500. The workhorse of the Adidas cricket range. Synthetic upper, multi-stud sole in rubber or spike configuration, ADIPRENE heel cushioning. Excellent value for club cricketers on matting or moderate turf. Check price on Amazon India
• Adidas Incurza 3.0 — ₹3,500–₹5,000. Step up in upper quality. More breathable synthetic with mesh panels. Better stud placement for lateral movement. Good for batters who run hard between wickets. Check price on Amazon India

Premium Range: ₹5,000–₹8,000

• Adidas CricADEX — ₹5,000–₹7,000. Adidas's mid-premium cricket shoe. Improved leather upper, full-length cushioning, better heel counter for fast bowlers. Excellent choice for serious club and district-level players. Check price on Amazon India
• Adidas CricADEX Boost — ₹7,000–₹8,000. The flagship Adidas cricket shoe. Boost cushioning technology (the same foam in their top running shoes), premium leather upper, heavy-duty stud plate. Designed for regular professional use. Check price on Amazon India

Best Adidas pick for club cricket: Adidas Incurza 3.0 at ₹3,500–₹5,000. Best Adidas pick for fast bowlers: Adidas CricADEX with full spike configuration.

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Puma Cricket Shoes: Models and Price Range

Puma's cricket shoe range is built around a coherent design philosophy and clear association with modern Indian cricket culture.

Entry to Mid Range: ₹2,800–₹5,000

• Puma 19.1 — ₹2,800–₹4,000. Entry-level Puma cricket shoe. Synthetic upper, rubber stud sole option, lightweight feel. Good for batters and fielders who prioritise comfort over maximum traction. Check price on Amazon India
• Puma Evoknit Cricket — ₹3,500–₹5,000. Knit upper construction — excellent breathability in India's heat. IGNITE foam cushioning, soft ground stud option. Particularly suited to fielders and batters who need to stay comfortable across long hot days. Check price on Amazon India

Premium Range: ₹5,000–₹8,500

• Puma 22 FG — ₹5,000–₹7,000. The main mid-premium Puma cricket shoe. Full-grain leather upper, IGNITE foam, six-spike firm-ground sole. Excellent for turf wickets. The shoe most associated with IPL squad use. Check price on Amazon India
• Puma Future Rider Cricket — ₹6,500–₹8,500. Puma's current flagship. Modern aesthetic, premium leather, full-length IGNITE cushioning, heavy-duty stud plate. Excellent across all surfaces with the right stud configuration. Check price on Amazon India

Best Puma pick for batters: Puma Evoknit for comfort; Puma 22 FG for turf performance. Best Puma pick for fast bowlers: Puma 22 FG or Puma Future Rider with full spike plate.

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Round-by-Round Battle

Grip on Different Surfaces: Adidas vs Puma

Both brands perform well on turf, and both offer rubber-soled options for matting. The key differences emerge in the stud configuration choices.

Adidas offers more stud configuration options across their range — including 9-spike options on premium models that give better traction during fast bowling delivery strides. Puma's standard six-spike pattern is well-designed but less varied. For Indian club cricket where surfaces range from slow, dry turf to cement-based matting, having more configuration options matters.

On pure grip performance on good turf, both brands are excellent and there is no significant difference for most players.

Round winner: Adidas (more configuration options), Draw on actual turf grip

Cushioning Technology: Adidas vs Puma

This is one of the clearer differences between the brands. Puma's IGNITE foam provides full-length cushioning from heel to toe — meaning every landing during a run-up or between-wicket sprint is absorbed across the entire foot. This is particularly valuable for fast bowlers who land hard on their front foot at pace.

Adidas's ADIPRENE technology concentrates cushioning in the heel, which is excellent for the heel-strike impact of a fast bowling front-foot landing but provides less protection through the midfoot. The Boost cushioning on their flagship CricADEX Boost model is genuinely excellent — the same technology used in top-level running shoes — and for this model specifically, Puma's cushioning advantage disappears.

Round winner: Puma (full-length cushioning across more price points), Adidas (at flagship level)

Durability Over a Cricket Season

Cricket shoes take abuse: bowling run-ups, diving in the outfield, spike drag on hard surfaces, sweat exposure. Both brands' mid-to-premium models hold up well over a full season. However, there is a consistent pattern in user feedback that Adidas uppers — particularly on their CricADEX range — retain their shape better over extended use than Puma uppers, which can show accelerated wear on the toe box area after heavy bowling use.

For players who bowl 15+ overs per game across a long season, the Adidas edge in durability is meaningful.

Round winner: Adidas (durability across a season)

Bowlers vs Batters: Which Shoe for Which Role?

Fast bowlers need maximum traction at delivery stride (especially the front foot), heel cushioning for repeated hard landings, and a shoe that maintains stability during the rotating delivery action. Adidas CricADEX's stud configuration and heel cushioning are particularly well-suited here. The Puma 22 FG is also excellent for bowlers.

Batters need lateral stability for crease movement, comfortable cushioning for extended standing, and a shoe that allows quick explosive movement between wickets. Puma's IGNITE foam and the Evoknit's breathability make them slightly better suited to long batting sessions in Indian heat. The Adidas Incurza range is also a solid choice for batters.

Wicket-keepers: both brands' low-cut designs work well behind the stumps. Neither has a standout kipping-specific model; choose on comfort.

Round winner: Adidas (bowlers), Puma (batters and hot-weather comfort)

Price and Value for Money

At the entry level (₹2,500–₹3,500), Adidas has the slight edge with the Incurza 2.0 offering excellent construction for the price. Mid-range (₹3,500–₹6,000) is an even contest — Puma's Evoknit and Adidas's Incurza 3.0/CricADEX are both excellent. Premium (₹6,000–₹8,500), Puma's Future Rider and Adidas's CricADEX Boost are neck-and-neck on value.

Overall, for club cricketers buying on budget, Adidas's slightly lower entry price point gives them a marginal advantage.

Round winner: Adidas (marginally, at entry price point)

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Which Cricket Shoe for Which Player?

Budget club cricketer on matting (under ₹3,000): Adidas Incurza 2.0 with rubber sole configuration. Best value at this price in either brand's range.

Batter playing long innings in Indian heat (₹3,500–₹5,000): Puma Evoknit. The breathable knit upper makes a real difference during long batting innings on hot Indian grounds.

Fast bowler (₹5,000–₹7,500): Adidas CricADEX with full spike configuration. The heel cushioning and superior stud options suit the demands of regular fast bowling better than the Puma equivalent.

All-rounder wanting one versatile shoe (₹5,000–₹7,000): Puma 22 FG or Adidas CricADEX — genuinely tough call. Try both in-store if possible.

Kohli fan wanting the brand connection (₹5,000+): Puma. The association is genuine — Puma is Kohli's kit sponsor.

Spikes vs rubber soles: If you play exclusively on hard matting, get rubber soles. If you play on turf, get spikes. If you play both, get a shoe with an interchangeable or soft-spike system. Both Adidas and Puma offer rubber-soled variants of their major models.

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The Verdict

Both Adidas and Puma make excellent cricket shoes, and at most price points the competition is genuinely close. Our recommendations split by use case:

Adidas wins for: fast bowlers, durability-focused buyers, more stud configuration options, entry-level value.

Puma wins for: full-length cushioning, breathability in Indian heat, batter comfort, brand association with Indian cricket culture.

Budget and Role	Our Pick
Under ₹3,500 (all-rounder)	Adidas Incurza 2.0
₹3,500–₹5,000 (batter/fielder)	Puma Evoknit
₹5,000–₹7,000 (fast bowler)	Adidas CricADEX
₹5,000–₹7,000 (batter)	Puma 22 FG
₹7,000+ (premium)	Puma Future Rider (batter) / Adidas CricADEX Boost (bowler)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Adidas or Puma cricket shoes suitable for hard matting surfaces? A: Both brands offer rubber-soled variants of their main cricket shoe models, which are appropriate for hard matting. Make sure to specifically select the rubber sole or "all-surface" variant when buying — the spiked versions designed for turf can damage matting surfaces and provide poor traction on harder surfaces.

Q: Which cricket shoes do Indian Premier League players wear? A: IPL players wear a mix of both brands depending on their personal sponsorship contracts. Puma has a particularly strong IPL presence through team kit deals and Virat Kohli's individual sponsorship. Adidas also has contracted international players who use their shoes in IPL matches. Both brands are actively represented in every IPL season.

Q: How long do cricket shoes last for regular club players? A: For a club cricketer playing 2–3 matches per week through a season plus regular practice, expect a quality pair (₹4,000+) to last one full season (approximately 8–12 months) with care. Budget shoes (sub-₹3,000) typically last one season of moderate use. Rotate to extend life if you play very frequently.

Q: Should fast bowlers choose spikes or rubber studs? A: For turf wickets, fast bowlers should always use full metal spikes. The grip during the delivery stride is critical — slipping at release costs pace and risks injury. For matting, rubber studs or the all-surface variant are appropriate. For concrete practice nets, use either rubber studs or a dedicated net shoe.

Q: Is there a significant size difference between Adidas and Puma cricket shoe sizing? A: Both brands follow standard Indian/UK sizing. However, Adidas cricket shoes tend to run slightly wider in the toe box, which suits the wider feet common among Indian cricketers. Puma tends to be slightly narrower. If you have wider feet, size up half a size in Puma or choose the wider fit variant where available.