According to a list prepared by London School of Marketing, India’s ODI cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named the ninth most marketable sportsperson in the world. Dhoni has pipped football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Tennis player Andy Murray in the list of the world’s 20 most marketable sports persons.
Swiss tennis master Roger Federer was named as the most marketable sports star in the world, followed by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at second and third respectively. Tennis stars dominate the power list with Djokovic seventh on the list, followed by Rafael Nadal. Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams — the only two women to make it into the top 20 — claim the 12th and 20th spots, respectively.
- The wicketkeeper batsman made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, and was run out on the first ball.
- Mahi is the only Indian captain to have led his team to victory in all three major ICC tournaments: the Twenty-20 World Cup (2007), 50 Over World Cup (2011) and the Champion’s Trophy (2013).
- Dhoni was conferred with the honorary rank of Lt Colonel by the Indian Territorial Army in November 2011.
- Dhoni’s maiden century against Pakistan in Test in Faisalabad (148) is the fastest century scored by an Indian wicket-keeper.
- Under Dhoni’s captaincy India became the first team after a gap of more than 20 Years to whitewash Australia in a Test series.
Test Your Knowledge
Name the Indian Spinner who bowled 21 consecutive maiden overs vs England at Chennai?
