Kohli, Rohit, Dhoni more popular than Neeraj Chopra in July
What's the story
Cricket continues to dominate the Indian sports scene, overshadowing even the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to a report by Ormax Media, five out of the top 10 most popular sportspersons in India for July were cricketers. This list includes both active and retired players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar. The popularity of these cricketers surpassed that of Neeraj Chopra, India's most successful Olympian to date.
Cricket dominance
Kohli and Sharma lead in popularity
Despite not participating in any matches during July, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma secured the top two spots on the popularity chart. This is particularly noteworthy given that Chopra, who was preparing for the Paris Olympics and considered a strong medal contender for India, did not compete either. The enduring appeal of cricket in India is further underscored by this trend.
Retired stars
Retired cricketers still command attention
Interestingly, retired cricketers MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar also featured on the list, ranking higher than Chopra. Dhoni continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), while Tendulkar has not played a match for over a decade. Their enduring popularity further highlights cricket's deep-rooted influence in India's sports culture.
Diverse representation
Other sports stars on the list
Hardik Pandya, who played a crucial role in India's victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup, also made it to the list at number 10. PV Sindhu was the only female sportsperson featured. The list also included three footballers - Sunil Chhetri, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi - further diversifying its representation of popular sports figures in India.