Virat Kohli tops the list of India’s most valuable celebrities in 2026. Along with Virat Kohli, two other Indian cricketers are named in the top 10 list; The remaining eight celebrities are from the silver screen.
TAM Media Research, commonly known as TAM Media, conducted a survey this year to find out the top Indian celebrities. Apart from Virat, former India cricketer MS Dhoni and the great Sachin Tendulkar are the other two sports personalities in the list.
Why has Virat Kohli been named as the most valuable celebrity in India in 2026?
Nowadays the ‘worth’ of a celebrity depends not only on their contributions to their respective fields but also on how they have influenced a large audience outside their profession.
For example, Virat, who is a cricketer but his impact goes beyond the cricket realm. Virat, who retired from T20Is and Tests a long time ago, remains active only in the One Day International format, which reduces his activity on the field as a cricketer.
Apart from playing for the India national cricket team, his impact for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is undeniable.
Activities outside cricket help Virat Kohli emerge as the No. 1 valued celebrity in India
The study, which identified the country’s most valuable celebrities, included each celebrity’s contribution through brand endorsement, trust, social media influence, relevance in culture, brand value association and business impact.
In the external activities related to cricket, Virat is actively associated with his venture One8 and has been associated with many famous companies as a brand ambassador to promote the brands by gaining the trust of followers and large audience.
MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, both cricket stars, have retired from cricket long ago. While MS Dhoni made an appearance in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sachin played his last competitive match in the final of the International Masters League T20 tournament on March 16, 2025, but retired from Tests in 2013.
MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar remain relevant across the country
Dhoni and Tendulkar are still relevant in Indian cricket because of the legacy they have created with their heroics in cricket. Later, after his retirement, when his appearances for any team gradually became very limited, he remained a top celebrity through his off-the-field activities. Due to his reputation and achievements among cricket fans, brands often appoint him as the face for their initiatives or a product.
Since cricket is the most popular sport in India, the list of top 10 celebrities includes Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. After Virat Kohli, Bollywood’s ‘Badshah’ Shahrukh Khan is at second place and Priyanka Chopra Jonas is at third place in the top ten list.
India’s most valuable celebrities in 2026 according to TAM Media:
1. Virat Kohli
2. Shahrukh Khan
3. Priyanka Chopra Jonas
4. MS Dhoni
5. Ranveer Singh
6. Akshay Kumar
7. Amitabh Bachchan
8. Sachin Tendulkar
9. Alia Bhatt
10. Allu Arjun
