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 Virat as the only Indian sportsperson in the June edition of the London-based magazine.
Former England batsman and Delhi Daredevils skipper Kevin Pietersen (35) is the only cricketer other than Kohli, 25, to feature in the top-50 list.
Brazilian soccer 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 Christiano 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.
