Year 2018: Top 10 sports endorsers from India

The year 2018 witnessed some heartwarming from the Indian sport-stars. Be it the India’s exploits on the cricket field or the Indian athletes at the CWG, Asian Games or other global level events, the Indian athletes gave record-breaking performances all around. It is natural for the brands to exploit and leverage these super-athletes from India. Let’s take a look at the list compiled by the insidesport.co team for the TOP 10 sports brand endorsers for the year 2018.

Top 10 sports endorsers List

Number 10 – The young and dynamic Prithvi Shaw

19-year-old Prithvi Shaw after all the hype got a chance to show his skill in the international arena and buoy he did not disappoint. Making his debut for the Indian cricket team against the West-Indies, Shaw slammed century and announced to the world that he is the next big thing in Indian cricket. It was obvious that brands will latch on to this young talent. The Young sensation in his first year as international cricketer managed brand endorsement deals with Dairy major Danone(Protine X) and  Navneet Youva to be at number 10th in our list of Top 10 sports endorsers from India.

Number 9 – The evergreen Mrs. Saina Nehwal Kashyap

The just-married queen of Indian badminton had mixed bag of results in 2018. Recovering from injuries, Nehwal played tremendously well to outshine her higher-ranked teammate PV Sindhu to win CWG Gold. The victory resulted in brands once again seeing Saina as dependable investment. Saina who signed up with Do-it Talent Venture as her manager was seen endorsing Rasna and couple of other brands in 2018. The Indian ace shuttler also appeared in the Flipkart #TheBigBillionDays’ promotional video.

Number 8 – Rohit Sharma – The HITMAN

Rohit Sharma may have once again indifferent 2018 in the test arena but his reputation as Hitman of World cricket in ODI and T20 formats further got enhanced in 2018. Both formats put together, Rohit scored had 7 tons to his credit making him hit with the brands. The most elegant batsman of the Indian team signed 4 new brand deals in 2018.

Brands signed by Rohit Sharma in 2018 –  Conket Gadgets, Sharp TV, Aristocrat bags and his bat sponsor CEAT.

Number 7 – Hima Das – The Dhing Express

Indian athletics golden girl Hima Das was a huge hit in the track. World Championship and Asian Games Gold medals made 20-year-old Hima Das household name in the country. Coming from small village her story is of grit, determination, dreams and courage and the brands love such a story. Managed by IOS Sports, The Dhing Express signed brand after brand post her Asian Games triumph.

Adidas, Edelweiss, UNICEF(First ever youth ambassador) and sports brand ambassador of Assam, Hima has her kitty full in 2018. The star sprinter also has been appointed as the officer by PSU major Indian Oil Corporation which puts her number 7th in our Top 10 sports endorsers from India list.

Number 6 – Rahul Dravid – The real dependable for the brands

Rahul Dravid retired from cricket in year 2012 but the Mr. Dependable of Indian cricket stays Mr. Dependable for the brands as well.

The current overseas consultant for the Indian Team & Junior Coach for India singed various new deals this year. His non-controversial persona and dependency factor attached to his profile resulted in Dravid getting deals with Philips (Air Purifier), Aptech, Google Pixel 3. In 2018 Dravid was also appointed as brand ambassador for Karnataka Assembly Elections.

Number 5 – Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar all his playing career has been MRF man. But 2018 saw Tendulkar signing rivals Apollo tyre as brand ambassador. The association clearly shows that Tendulkar is still one of the most salable names in the Indian brand endorsement market.

Other then this Master Blaster was once again seen aggressively endorsing BMW’S new launch. Sachin also initiated some of his own initiatives, Middlesex Cricket Academy and Sachin 100 MB Quiz App.

Number 4 – Hardik Pandya, the new poster boy of Indian Cricket 

Number 4th in the Top 10 sports brand endorsers India list is a name which will surprise everyone. This name is none other than Hardik Pandya, the new poster boy of Indian cricket. Pandya’s all round skills, athleticism, aggression and performance has made him India’s new youth icon and as someone who pushes the boundaries of creativity and quality, conveying a whole new phase of contemporary thinking. This image has lend him 8 brand endorsement deals this season. Pandya has been charging 1.25 to 1.5 CR per endorsement deal.

In 2018 Pandya signed with Gulf Oil, Gillette, Zaggle, Sin Denim, EUME, Boat, D:FY as their brand ambassador. As the year ends, Pandya has now signed up with Star India to promote their new broadcast packages and tariff along with his former captain MS Dhoni

Number 3 – PV Sindhu, the richest Indian female athlete

Success story of PV Sindhu is growing and getting sweeter every year. Rio Olympic Silver medallist Sindhu finished the year with Gold at BWF World Tour Finals (Season ender). The champion shuttler was also named by Forbes 7^th among the Top 10 Highest Paid Female Athletes globally with 60 Crore annual earnings.

Vodafone Sakhi, JBL, Stayfree were some of the new signings done by India’s shuttle queen. Her consistent performance and trust of brands on her was enough to place Sindhu as No.3 in India’s top sports brand endorsers list.

Number 2 – Mahendraf Singh Dhoni jaisa koi nahi

He retired from Test cricket, questions were asked about his place in India team for T20 & ODI’S – but what did not became questionable was his popularity among the Indian brands. On the contrary, Dhoni has been singed by highest number of brands in 2018 as brand ambassador.

As per Insidesport.co’s analysis, India’s most successful captain has signed 15 new brand endorsement deals this year. Currently, Mahi endorses more then 25 brands making him one of the biggest brand India has ever seen. Mahi still commands price of 4-5 CR per endorsement deal and is placed as number 2 in the India’s top sports brand endorsers list.

MS Dhoni – 2018 Deals

MasterCard, Ward Wiz, Run Adam, Sound Logic, Sumadhura Group, Indigo paints, Snickers Chocolate, dream 11, NetMeds, SRMB Steel, Officer Choice Blue, Bharat Matrimonial, Paneri, Go-Dady and Indi platform.

Number 1 – VIRAT KOHLI – The real dependable for the brands Virat Kohli

The exploits of Virat Kohli on the cricket field has made him the King Kohli of world cricket. On the field, Kohli is breaking every batting record and on the commercial pitch, he is batting at level where no one ever has. The brand Kohli today in itself can challenge any individual brand. Where others in the list are being gauged from the fact on how many endorsement deals they have signed, Virat Kohli and his team is busy creating huge licensing business for brand KOHLI.

KOHLI’S brand licensing business 

WRONGN – 250 Cr turnover

One8         – Crossed 100 CR turnover

Men’s innerwear – Lux Industries deal signed

Headwear           – New Era Deal

On the endorsement front too, Virat this year became the face of Hero MotoCorp, Uber and various others. In total Virat has 21 endorsement deals under his belt.

2018 DEALS

Tissot, Puma, Hero Motocorp, Mr. Owl, Sun Pharma Volini, Remmit2India, Philips, Mr. Owl, Luminous, Punjab National Bank and Uber India, Amaze Inverter & batteries.

This commercial empire of Indian captain is enough to place his as Number 1 in the Top 10 sports endorsers list for the year 2018

Other then these Top 10 sports endorsers of the year, few others like World Champion Marrykom, Shooting sensation Manu Bhaker, CWG Gold Medallist Table Tennis star Manika Batra made their presence felt on the brand endorsement pitch. 

Also Read: Year 2018: TOP 10 Sports Business Deals and News from India