Shubman Gill ranked above Ronaldo-Messi in most marketable athletes list, Dhoni-Kohli-Rohit totally snubbed

Shubman Gill Leads Indian Cricketers in SportsPro’s 2026 Most Marketable Athletes Ranking

India’s cricket stars continue to attract global attention, but SportsPro’s 2026 Most Marketable Athletes list highlights a changing generation of sporting influence. Shubman Gill is the highest-ranked Indian cricketer in the annual ranking, placing 13th overall and ahead of football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant also feature among the world’s 50 most marketable athletes, alongside India women’s cricket stars Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana.

The results offer a snapshot of how athletes build commercial appeal in a digital-first era. They also underline Gill’s growing profile beyond the cricket field, while showing that marketability rankings can shift from year to year—even for established names such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.

Five Indian Cricketers Make the Top 50

Gill leads the Indian contingent at No. 13. His rise reflects a combination of sporting visibility, appeal among younger fans and an expanding presence across digital platforms. As India’s captain, he has become one of the most prominent faces of the national team, giving brands and audiences a high-profile figure to follow.

Four other Indian cricketers also earned places in the top 50. Jemimah Rodrigues is ranked 31st, Rishabh Pant 36th, Smriti Mandhana 37th and Jasprit Bumrah 39th. The list includes both men’s and women’s cricket, reflecting the growing reach of India’s women’s game as well as the continuing global pull of the country’s leading male players.

Rodrigues and Mandhana are among the members of India’s Women’s ODI World Cup-winning side represented in the ranking. Their positions point to the increasing commercial visibility of women’s cricket, supported by major performances, a larger audience and stronger interest from sponsors. Bumrah’s place, meanwhile, demonstrates that marketability is not limited to batters or captains: a distinctive playing style and a reputation as one of the game’s leading fast bowlers can also build a powerful public profile.

What the SportsPro Ranking Measures

SportsPro’s Most Marketable Athletes ranking, often referred to as the 50MM, is an annual assessment of commercial potential across sport. Launched in 2010, it considers more than simple fame or follower counts. The ranking is designed to evaluate how well an athlete’s public profile may translate into long-term commercial opportunities.

For the 2026 edition, athletes were assessed across three pillars, with a total score of 100 points. Brand Equity accounts for 45 points and considers the strength, trust and reach associated with an athlete’s personal brand. Momentum is worth 40 points and measures how quickly that brand is growing. Commercial Trajectory contributes the remaining 15 points, focusing on the athlete’s prospects for future commercial development.

The research process is broad in scope. SportsPro considered 1,202 athletes from 70 sports before selecting 247 for detailed analysis. The assessment drew on 27 marketability variables, hundreds of data points for each athlete and more than 3,000 brand partnership records. Factors included audience size, search interest, media sentiment and recent commercial deals.

This approach helps explain why the ranking can differ from a conventional measure of sporting achievement. A player’s performance remains important, but the list also considers whether that athlete’s influence is growing, how audiences respond to them and whether their profile fits the needs of brands. In other words, the ranking is a prediction of commercial promise as well as a reflection of current recognition.

Gill’s Position Ahead of Ronaldo and Messi

Gill’s 13th-place ranking puts him ahead of Ronaldo, who is 14th, and Messi, who is 27th. The comparison does not suggest that Gill has surpassed either footballer in career achievements or worldwide fame. Instead, it shows how a marketability index can reward factors such as momentum, audience connection and future growth potential.

For a young Indian captain, the opportunity to connect with cricket’s enormous domestic audience is a significant advantage. India’s cricket ecosystem brings together a vast television audience, passionate supporters and an active online fan community. Gill’s leadership role and growing prominence could help him remain commercially relevant as his career develops.

His ranking also reflects a broader shift in sports marketing. Brands increasingly look for athletes who can engage audiences directly through social media, deliver a clear public identity and appeal to fans across different age groups. A player’s potential to build that relationship over time can matter as much as their existing fame.

Where Are Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni?

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are not among the top 50 in the 2026 ranking. Kohli is placed 85th, Dhoni 83rd and Rohit 90th. Their positions should be understood in the context of a ranking that evaluates a particular set of marketability indicators—not as a verdict on their popularity, influence or contribution to cricket.

Kohli has a long history in the SportsPro list. He was the only Indian athlete included in 2014, ranking behind Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, and rose to third place in 2016. Kohli and Rohit both appeared in the top 50 the previous year, before falling outside it in the latest edition. Such movement can reflect changes in momentum and commercial indicators, rather than a sudden loss of public affection.

All three remain among the most recognised cricketers in the world. Their careers, achievements and established fan bases continue to give them considerable cultural influence. The 2026 results instead draw attention to the next wave of athletes gaining ground in a changing sports and sponsorship landscape.

Gill Turns His Focus to New Zealand

Gill’s rise in the marketability ranking comes as he prepares for an important international assignment. He has arrived in New Zealand for a five-match ODI series followed by two Test matches. The Tests are particularly significant for India’s ambitions in the World Test Championship, where strong results could help improve the team’s position in the standings.

India will also be looking to strengthen its limited-overs performances. The team’s death bowling has been a concern, with the attack needing greater control in the closing stages of ODI innings. An inexperienced bowling group can face added pressure in a 50-over match, where a few expensive overs may quickly change the result.

For Gill, the New Zealand tour brings the opportunity to balance leadership responsibilities with his own performances. A successful series could reinforce his standing as one of India’s leading players, while adding to the momentum that has helped place him among the world’s most marketable athletes.

A Changing Picture of Indian Cricket’s Global Appeal

SportsPro’s 2026 list captures more than a collection of rankings. It reflects the expanding commercial reach of Indian cricket, the growing visibility of women athletes and the emergence of younger stars such as Gill. The inclusion of Rodrigues and Mandhana is especially notable, while the presence of Bumrah and Pant shows the range of personalities and playing styles that can attract global interest.

Rankings are only one measure of an athlete’s influence, and a place outside the top 50 does not diminish a player’s standing with supporters. Still, the list offers a useful prediction of where commercial attention may be heading. For Indian cricket, the message is clear: its established icons remain influential, but a new generation is increasingly shaping the sport’s next chapter.