Published: May 20, 2014, 05:43 PM (IST)
Edited: May 20, 2014, 05:43 PM (IST)
New Delhi: May 20, 2014
Indian batting star Virat Kohli has been rated second behind British Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton in the list of most marketable athletes by the UK magazine, SportsPro. The list, driven by marketing potential over the next three years based on value for money, age, home market, charisma, willingness to be marketed and crossover appeal, has Kohli as the only Indian sportsperson in the June edition of the London-based magazine.
Former England batsman and Delhi Daredevils captain Kevin Pietersen (35) is the only cricketer other than Kohli, 25, to feature in the top-50 list.
Brazilian football star Neymar, who topped the chart in the previous two editions of the magazine, has now slipped to the seventh spot.
In a list comprising Cristiano Ronaldo (4), Usain Bolt (6), Lionel Messi (11), Novak Djokovic (15), Andy Murray (21), Rory McIlroy (24), Sebastian Vettel (27) and Victoria Azarenka (31), Kohli’s No 2 spot is surely a matter of pride for every Indian sports fan.
