Top 4 highest bat endorsement deals of current Indian cricketers

Virat Kohli, without a doubt, is the best batsman in the world at the moment. With some exceptionally consistent performances, he has established himself as one of the greatest players of all time.

Kohli scores runs at will. He keeps producing centuries, innings after innings and series after series. Since his international debut in 2008, Kohli has scored in excess of 19000 runs that includes 64 tons, all formats combined.

The other key player of the current Indian team, Rohit Sharma, is next only to Kohli. With a number of elegant shots in his armory, Rohit is a magician with the willow in his hand.

But while Rohit is the closest to Kohli on the field, they have a huge margin between them in terms of the commercial value of brand endorsement stickers on their bats.

On that note, let us take a look at the top 4 highest bat endorsement deals of current Indian cricketers.

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#4 Shikhar Dhawan - ₹3 crore per year with MRF

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan, along with his opening partner Rohit Sharma, are both in the third place of the list of the highest bat endorsement deals. Dhawan has an annual ₹3 crore tie-up to showcase the MRF logo on his bat.

Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) is the largest tyre manufacturer in India and the 14th largest in the world. MRF has earlier been endorsed by legendary cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. The elite club also includes the likes of Gautam Gambhir, skipper Kohli, Ab de Villiers, and Prithvi Shaw.

Dhawan has been extremely consistent for India at the top of the order in the last few years. The shots that come off his willow through the off-side are a treat to watch.

Thus far the Delhi batsman has played 34 Tests, 123 ODIS and 50 T20Is, scoring 2315, 5178 and 1310 runs at an average of 40.61, 45.03 and 28.48 respectively. The aggressive opener also has 22 international tons to his name.

#3 Rohit Sharma - ₹3 crore per year with CEAT

Rohit Sharma

The swashbuckling Indian opener Rohit Sharma has been endorsing MRF’s rival brand CEAT since November 2015 for a deal of ₹3 crore per annum. In October 2018 CEAT renewed its association with Rohit for another three years.

Since his promotion as an opener in 2013, the talented Mumbaikar has gone from strength to strength to become one of the leading batsmen in limited overs cricket at the moment. In fact, many believe he is the best opener in world cricket now.

The 31-year-old has thus far played 27 Tests, 201 ODIs and 94 T20Is scoring 1585, 7808 and 2331 runs at an average of 39.62, 47.61 and 32.38 respectively. He is the only batsman in world cricket to boast of 3 ODI double hundreds, and his score of 264 against Sri Lanka is the highest individual score ever in international limited overs.

Rohit also has 29 international tons to his name.

#2 MS Dhoni - ₹4.33 crore per year with SPARTAN

MS Dhoni

The most experienced member of the current Indian team, MS Dhoni, had first signed a three-year deal with Spartan in December 2013 for a whopping ₹ 25 crore. In 2016, the cricket brand from Australia renewed his deal for ₹ 13 crore for a period of three more years.

Though the current deal has reportedly run into trouble because of the brand failing to fulfill its commitments, Dhoni continues to support them by sporting their sticker on his bat.

Dhoni's journey from a small town boy who dreamed big to becoming one of the most successful captains in the history of the game is an inspiration to many youngsters across the globe. He is the only captain to win all the major ICC tournaments - World T20, 50-over World Cup, and Champions Trophy.

Thus far Dhoni has played 90 Tests, 338 ODIs, and 98 T20Is scoring 4876, 10415 and 1617 runs at an average of 38.09, 50.8 and 37.6 respectively. He also has 16 tons and a double ton to his name in all formats combined.

#1 Virat Kohli - ₹13.75 crore per year with MRF

India v Australia - T20I: Game 2

The skipper of the Indian cricket team tops the list with a whopping ₹13.75 crore per annum contract with MRF. Virat Kohli renewed his bat sponsorship deal with MRF for eight years for ₹110 crore in mid-2017.

Kohli first signed with MRF three years ago in a deal worth ₹8 crore per annum, in 2015. Thus the current deal fetches Kohli 70% more than what he would get from the earlier deal.

The batting maestro has been doing great justice to that hefty amount by scoring runs and hundreds for fun. After the deal was renewed, the CEO of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment, the agency that manages Kohli’s endorsements, said that MRF was keen on securing Kohli for a long term.

Thus far the No. 1 batsman in the ICC rankings for Tests and ODIs has played 77 Tests, 222 ODIs, and 67 T20Is, scoring 6613, 10533 and 2263 runs at an average of 53.76, 59.50 and 50.28 respectively.