India’s highest earning sportsperson: Current captain is all likeliness of overtaking the former captain and current wicket-keeper batsman.
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Apart from achieving cricketing feats way too soon for his age, India captain Virat Kohli is also playing hard on the commercial side of things to the extent that he is likely of overtaking former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India’s highest earning sportsperson.
Kohli’s estimated earnings of $24 million over the last 12 months has put him at No. 83. World’s top-earning cricketer, Kohli surpasses the likes of renowned athletes like Novak Djokovic and Sergio Aguero.
The reason why he is behind many other leading athletes of other games is because of cricket being played among a limited group of countries in the world. Yet to become a global sport in the real sense, cricketers will step up the ladder once cricket is accepted throughout the world.
The 30-year old right-hand batsman currently endorses as many as 21 brands including Tissot, Audi, Puma, Uber, Hero etc.
The ‘youth icon’ status which Kohli has earned with his deeds on and off the field has contributed to a significant increase in financial value in a country with a population of 1.3 billion. There is also no hiding to the fact that him being a heart-throb among women forces brands to turn towards him during endorsements.
“The youth of the country – and more than half of India’s population are under 25 – can identify themselves with the man living their dream. He speaks his mind, takes stands, interacts on social media – all of it goes well with his fans,” said Kohli biographer Vijay Lokapally.
According to Forbes, $20 million of his total comes from endorsements and $4 million from salary and so-called ‘winnings’, which would include prize money.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Kohli below:
