Top Indian Athletes with the Most Brand Deals
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The world of sports in India has seen a surge in commercial endorsements. In recent years, athlete sponsorships have exploded, rising to ₹1,224 crore in 2024, a 32% jump year-over-year. Non-cricket stars have led this boom, with Olympic heroes like Neeraj Chopra and PV Sindhu driving a large share.
As brands seek wider audiences, top athletes across cricket, athletics, badminton, and more are securing dozens of deals. This article explores India’s current sports icons and their major brand partnerships.
The following sections detail the biggest endorsers in Indian sport. Each athlete’s profile highlights their key brands, deal counts, and rough values.
Which Indian Athletes Have the Most Brand Deals?
Which Indian Athletes Have the Most Brand Deals?
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is far and away India’s top sporting celebrity. He has over 30 endorsement deals (far more than any other Indian athlete). His brand valuation is enormous: about INR 1,912 crore. Companies from sports gear to cars leverage his image.
For example:
- MRF (Tyres): His bat sponsorship with MRF is a INR 100 crore deal over 8 years.
- Audi: Kohli serves as a face of Audi, earning about INR 5 crore per year.
- Puma: He famously walked away from a INR 300 crore renewal, illustrating his market clout.
- Other partners include Myntra, Nestlé (Boost), Hero MotoCorp, Flipkart, Noise, Blue Star, and many more.
Kohli also monetizes social media heavily: reportedly earning over INR 11 crore per Instagram post due to his 270+ million followers. Overall, he remains “a marketer’s dream” and a “commercial juggernaut”.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma follows Kohli as one of the richest endorsers. He endorses 26+ brands across industries, from FMCG to fintech. A few highlights:
- Adidas (Sportswear): Major global apparel partner.
- CEAT (Tyres): Longtime tyre sponsor (like his fellow opener).
- Swiggy, Hublot, Ixigo, Hero MotoCorp, Walkaroo, Glenmark, Nissan, Birla Sun Life and many others.
Because of these deals, Rohit earns an estimated INR 60–70 crore per year from endorsements. This puts him among India’s highest-paid athlete ambassadors (second only to Kohli). In short, his brand portfolio is vast (about 26+ companies) and yields multiple crores annually.
KL Rahul
KL Rahul’s clean image and off-field profile have made him a coveted endorser. He has deals with many leading brands, often in tech and lifestyle.
For instance:
- Puma (Sportswear): Rahul is a global ambassador for Puma’s sports line.
- Red Bull (Energy Drinks): He appears in Red Bull’s India campaigns.
- BharatPe (Fintech): Fronting the popular payments brand.
- boAt (Audio) and Realme (Smartphones): Tech endorsements as well.
- Others include Tata Nexon (Automotive), Beardo (Grooming), Zenovit (Nutrition), and Cure. fit (Health), Colgate, Gamezy, Too Yumm, Boldfit, RBI, and more.
Rahul reportedly charges about INR 50 lakh per ad shoot, reflecting his marketing value. Overall, he remains one of the highest-earning cricketers from endorsements aside from the very top stars.
Neeraj Chopra
Javelin champion Neeraj Chopra has become India’s leading non-cricket sports icon in marketing. After his 2021 Olympic gold, dozens of brands signed on. He now has nearly 20 high-profile partnerships.
Key deals include:
- Tata AIA (Insurance): Corporate sponsor for his training and campaigns.
- Audi India (Automotive): As a youth ambassador, featuring in ads for Audi vehicles.
- Visa (Payments): Official card partner.
- Under Armour (Sportswear): Technical apparel sponsor.
- Krafton (Gaming): Brand collaboration in esports.
Neeraj’s brand value is estimated at $30 million. He charges roughly INR 4–6 crore per endorsement deal these days (one report noted a renewal nearing INR 10 crore over 3 years). His blend of youth appeal and global medals has made him a marketer’s favorite.
PV Sindhu
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu leads Indian women athletes in endorsements. She currently represents about 12 brands, roughly double her count a few years ago. Notable partnerships include:
- Bank of Baroda (Banking): Brand ambassador for BOB.
- Asian Paints (FMCG): Appears in home improvement ads.
- Bridgestone India (Tyres): Faces advertising campaigns.
- Spinny (Auto used-cars): Brand partner.
- Optimum Nutrition, BoAt, PNB MetLife, Century Mattress, Li-Ning (her sportswear early sponsor), and others.
She has commanded endorsement fees of INR 1–2.25 crore per deal after her 2019 world championship win. The growth in her portfolio reflects the rising profile of badminton in India. Sindhu remains “one of India’s highest-paid women athletes”.
Smriti Mandhana
India’s premier women’s cricketer, Smriti Mandhana, also has a substantial endorsement roster. She endorses over 15 major brands (reports list at least a dozen).
Top names include:
- Hyundai (Automotive): Promotes Hyundai cars.
- Hero MotoCorp (Auto): Faces TV and print campaigns.
- Red Bull (Energy Drinks): Part of Red Bull’s stable of sports stars.
- Garnier (Beauty) and Nike (Sportswear): Fashion and fitness brands.
- Mastercard (Finance) and PNB MetLife (Insurance): Corporate tie-ups.
- Others such as Havells, Wrangler, Gulf Oil, Bata, Herbalife, Equitas Bank, Rexona, and UNICEF India.
Each Mandhana endorsement is reported to be worth roughly INR 50–75 lakh, adding several crores yearly. She is among the richest female athletes in India and a key face for advertisers.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya remains one of India’s most commercially successful cricket personalities, thanks to his strong youth appeal, bold persona, and active presence across tournaments and digital platforms.
Key partnerships include:
- boAt: Major youth-focused digital campaigns.
- Gulf Oil: Multi-year national advertising deal.
- Monster Energy: Global beverage collaboration.
- Dream11, SG Cricket, Google Pixel, Sin Denim, XO Sneakers: Broad consumer focus across tech, lifestyle, and gaming sectors.
Hardik typically charges INR 1–1.5 crore per endorsement, supported by his consistent digital engagement and broad brand recall.
Sakshi Jadhav
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has emerged as one of India’s most dynamic sports endorsers, known for his fearless playing style and strong digital influence. With 10–12 active deals, Pant continues to attract companies that want a smart, energetic, and widely followed ambassador.
Major endorsements include:
- MRF: Premium bat sponsorship.
- Noise: Wearables ambassador.
- JSW Sports: Corporate campaigns.
- Boost, Dream11, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Adidas: High-visibility national ads across sports, food, and lifestyle categories.
Pant earns INR 75 lakh–INR 1 crore per deal, depending on campaign duration and visibility. His comeback story has strengthened his emotional connection with audiences, making him a valuable face for brands seeking resilience-driven narratives.
Kidambi Srikanth
Kidambi Srikanth remains one of India’s strongest non-cricket brand ambassadors, known for his calm demeanour, consistent career graph, and disciplined lifestyle. As a widely respected badminton champion, his appeal cuts across age groups and regions.
Key deals include:
- Yonex: Primary equipment sponsor providing global-level visibility.
- ASICS: Footwear and performance brand endorsement.
- Bank of Baroda: Key campaigns highlighting discipline and reliability.
- Apollo Hospitals: Healthcare and wellness tie-ups promoting preventive fitness.
Srikanth earns INR 40–75 lakh per endorsement, making him one of the more premium faces in Indian badminton.
Suryakumar Yadav (SKY)
Suryakumar Yadav’s rise as India’s T20 sensation has transformed him into a highly sought-after brand ambassador. His endorsements have increased sharply, and he now holds 15+ partnerships, reflecting his rapid career growth and digital popularity.
Major partners include:
- JioCinema: Digital cricket campaigns with high engagement.
- SS Cricket: Premium bat sponsorship.
- UrbanGabru, Pintola, My11Circle: FMCG and tech brands targeting young consumers.
- Men of Platinum, Dream11, Royal Stag, Forma Helmets: High-frequency national ads.
SKY charges INR 60–INR 80 lakh per endorsement, depending on campaign scale and duration.
Hima Das
Hima Das, popularly known as "Dhing Express," remains a well-recognised figure in Indian athletics. Hima continues to hold 5–7 brand partnerships, focusing on fitness, nutrition, youth empowerment, and national-purpose campaigns.
Major brand partners:
- Adidas: Footwear and training apparel endorsement.
- Nestlé India: Nutrition-focused campaigns.
- State Bank of India: Banking and national outreach ads promoting trust and youth progress.
Hima earns INR 20–40 lakh per deal, depending on the campaign’s visibility and outreach. She remains a strong pick for brands targeting regional diversity, women's empowerment, and motivational narratives.
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen has become one of India’s most influential female athletes, thanks to her back-to-back World Boxing Championship wins and charismatic public presence. She now holds 10+ active partnerships, reflecting her rising stature.
Key partnerships include:
- Adidas: Global sportswear sponsor.
- Tata Tea: Large-scale national campaigns promoting change.
- Byju’s, Amul, MyGov: Wide-ranging corporate and public endorsements.
- PUMA (selected campaigns): Women-focused sportswear content.
She earns INR 20–50 lakh per endorsement, depending on brand category and campaign intensity.
Conclusion
As India’s sports landscape evolves, the role of brand deals in an athlete’s career continues to grow, with star players collecting ever more partnerships and huge deal values. In all, these athletes’ endorsement portfolios illustrate the rising power and commercial influence of sports icons in India.
Pratyusha Srivastava
Which Indian Athletes Have the Most Brand Deals?
- Virat Kohli
- Rohit Sharma
- KL Rahul
- Neeraj Chopra
- PV Sindhu
- Smriti Mandhana
- Hardik Pandya
- Rishabh Pant
- Kidambi Srikanth
- Suryakumar Yadav (SKY)
- Hima Das
- Nikhat Zareen
Why are non-cricket athletes gaining more endorsements in India?
Non-cricket athletes like Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, Nikhat Zareen, and Hima Das are gaining endorsements due to Olympic success, wider mass appeal, and a growing shift by brands toward diversified sports personalities.
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