Popularity of cricket players like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni over Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Allu Arjun is already surpassed.

Cricket players have still dominated in terms of popular appeal and endorsements, according to the Hansa Research's 2024 assessment.

Even Sachin Tendulkar is doing good, but Virat Kohli is at the number one position and then MS Dhoni. Since Kohli is reported to get ₹14 crore with each social media post, cricket has a better bonding relation with its followers than any movie of Bollywood. Leadership: Dhoni's leadership too works in his favor because of his easy-going nature.

Pushpa 2 Ticket Hikes: Beginning of the End?

The popularity of Kohli and Dhoni extends beyond the game, because it is not only cricketing achievements that bring them to the limelight. The personal life, especially that of Kohli and Anushka Sharma, romance keeps them in the highlight and results in one reason why a cricket player has a deeper emotional bonding than the movie stars.

Cricket is an emotional cultural phenomenon though Bollywood remains important. At present, cricket remains the biggest star in the country, but regional films and horror will soon be catching up as these genres grow in popularity.

Telugu Director Goes Pan-India: Most Crucial 88 Secs

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni above Shah Rukh Khan and other movie stars prove that cricket is strong in India. Together, this appeal raises cricket above other entertainment and puts it on top of Indian society.