The top stars in Indian cricket earn whopping amounts of money not just through their match fees and prize winnings but also through sponsorships, social media followers and engagement, and much more.
Especially with the advent of the IPL, some players are struggling to make it to the national team, but they are earning handsomely through their franchise contracts. Before discussing the brand value of cricketers, it is important to understand what it means.
The brand value of cricketers is essentially the commercial worth a player has beyond performance on the ground. It gives an idea of how marketable or influential the players are. On-field performance, popularity, fan following, media presence, endorsements and sponsorships, off-field activities like business initiatives, philanthropy, or media work (working as a commentator, an expert, etc.) are some of the things that constitute brand value of a player.
In this article, CricTracker lists five Indian cricketers with the highest brand value:
5. Hardik Pandya – INR 322 crore
Hardik Pandya is No. 5 on this list. The Baroda all-rounder has been playing for India since 2016. He is the current captain of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has also led the Indian team in white-ball cricket in an interim capacity.
Hardik is a seam-bowling all-rounder, a rare breed in Indian cricket. He is also very popular among the fans for his never-say-die attitude and ability to excel under pressure. With the Indian team, Hardik has won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, he has bagged five IPL titles. The Choryasi-born has an impressive 40.8 million followers on Instagram. On ‘X’, he has 10.8 million followers. His brand value is INR 322 crore (approximately $38.4 million).
4. Rohit Sharma – INR 344 crore
Rohit Sharma has been a part of the Indian setup since 2007. In February 2022, he took up the captaincy of India in all three formats. He had already won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy as a player. In 2024 and 2025, he won the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy, respectively, as a captain. Apart from his international trophies, Rohit also has six IPL titles in his cabinet. Five of them have come as the skipper of the Mumbai Indians.
Rohit, fondly known as Hitman, is one of the most revered cricketers in India. Apart from his phenomenal batting prowess, fans adore his sense of humour and light-hearted demeanour. He has 43.9 and 24.2 million followers on Instagram and X, respectively. The 38-year-old has a brand value of INR 344 crore (approximately $41 million).
3. Sachin Tendulkar – INR 766 crore
Sachin Tendulkar is considered by many as the finest batter to have ever played the sport. The legendary cricketer spent 24 years in international cricket, seeing the Indian team transition from formidable to consistent. He won the ODI World Cup in 2011 after a long wait. In 2013, he retired from international cricket. Over the past 12 years, he has served as a commentator for a brief period, while remaining an icon for the Mumbai Indians. Tendulkar has also taken fans on nostalgia trips by participating in Legends Leagues and playing some classy knocks.
Tendulkar still has a great fan following. Fans cheer for him whenever the cameras capture him in stadiums. He is also doing several ads and he looks very comfortable in his roles. The former India captain, who has more international runs than any other batter, has 50.6 million followers on Instagram. On X, he has 40.8 million followers. His brand value is a staggering INR 766 crore (approximately $91.4 million).
2. MS Dhoni – INR 803 crore
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020. He is the most successful Indian captain of all time, having led the Men in Blue to wins in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He is also a five-time IPL-winning captain. Dhoni’s fan following is insane as his IPL franchise – Chennai Super Kings – enjoys excellent support wherever it plays in the country. CSK’s away support is second to none in the 10-team tournament.
Dhoni is not very active on social media. His social media posts in a year can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Still, he has a commendable number of followers. On Instagram, he has 49.7 million followers. Meanwhile, on X, the iconic cricketer has 8.5 million followers. The 43-year-old is seen in various ads for renowned brands. He has established himself as one of the most trusted celebrities in the world. His brand value is a stunning INR 803 crore (approximately $95.6 million).
1. Virat Kohli – INR 1,912 crore
Virat Kohli is one of the best batters of all time. He was an understudy of Tendulkar in his initial years and learned a lot from the Little Master. The Delhi batter went on to carve his legacy. Kohli has broken many records held by Tendulkar during his illustrious career. The 36-year-old led India in all formats and took them to the finals of the inaugural World Test Championship.
Kohli will always be remembered for his aggressive and positive captaincy in Tests, where he would inspire his team to go for wins and not settle for draws. Under his leadership, India became a very strong force in overseas conditions. The face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru continues to be seen in ads for popular domestic as well as international brands. He has a mind-boggling brand value of INR 1,912 crore (approximately $227.9 million). It will be very difficult for cricketers to come close to this ever-growing figure in the next few years. Kohli is the most followed cricketer on Instagram as well as X, with 271 and 67.8 million followers, respectively.
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