Sports in India used to mean cricket and only cricket. Now it means more. Football, athletics, badminton and shooting have built their own followings. But cricket still dominates. These ten players are the most influential sports figures in India in 2026. Some are active players. Some are retired legends. All of them shape Indians’ ideas about sports, fitness and success. Their influence goes beyond the field. They sell products. They inspire children. They change the culture.

1. Virat Kohli (Cricket)

Virat Kohli is a former India captain and global cricket superstar. He is one of the most marketable players in world sports. He is known for his consistency, intensity and fitness culture. He changed the way Indian cricketers approach fitness. Before Kohli, Indian cricketers were not known for athleticism. They played on skill and technique. Kohli brought gym culture, dietary discipline and endurance training to Indian cricket. He made fitness cool. Young cricketers now copy his routines. He is influential because he has reshaped India’s fitness standards and modern superstar branding. He has 274 million followers on Instagram, more than most Bollywood stars. Brands pay him millions to promote their products. He sells everything from shoes to razors and mutual funds. He is not just a cricketer. He is a brand.

2. MS Dhoni (Cricket)

MS Dhoni is a former World Cup-winning captain of India. He is a great wicketkeeper-batsman. He is known for his calm leadership and finishing ability. He led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. No Indian captain has won so many ICC trophies. He is impressive because his leadership style created a golden era for Indian cricket. He led without shouting. He remained calm under pressure. When India needed runs, he finished the match with the bat. He has 49.7 million followers on Instagram. Even after retirement, he is one of the most loved cricketers in India. He endorses products and appears in advertisements and inspires young cricketers who want to lead like him.

3. Rohit Sharma (Cricket)

Rohit Sharma is the captain of India in the white ball format. He holds the record for scoring ODI double centuries. He has scored three ODI double centuries, more than anyone else. He is an icon for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, more than any other captain. He is influential because his success as a captain and a batsman inspires young cricketers. He bats with balance and power. He plays both spin and pace well. He has 45.7 million followers on Instagram. He endorses brands and appears in advertisements. Young batsmen study his technique and try to copy his pull shot.

4. Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket)

Sachin Tendulkar is a cricket legend and former Indian captain. He is the first cricketer to score one hundred international centuries. He played for India for twenty-four years. Even after retirement, he has remained very influential. He is influential because he defined the global image of modern Indian cricket. Before Tendulkar, Indian cricket was respected but not dominated. Tendulkar made it great. He scored runs against all bowlers in all countries. He has 51 million followers on Instagram which is remarkable for someone who retired a decade ago. Brands still want him to promote their products. Kids who have never seen him play still know his name. He is not just a cricketer. He is a national icon.

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5. Smriti Mandhana (Women’s Cricket)

Smriti Mandhana is the star batsman of the Indian women’s team. She is the face of women’s cricket in India. She is known for her stylish stroke play and consistency. She bats with timing and grandeur with her left hand. She opens the batting and gives India a quick start. She is influential because she helped bring women’s cricket to the mainstream across the country. Women’s cricket was invisible in India till a few years ago. Mandhana and her team players changed that. They played in packed stadiums. They appeared on television. They got sponsorships. She has 14.7 million followers on Instagram which is a big deal for a women cricketer. She endorses brands and appears in advertisements. Now young girls want to play cricket because of her.

6. Jasprit Bumrah (Cricket)

Jasprit Bumrah is India’s best fast bowler in all formats. He is famous for his deadly yorkers and accuracy. He is a match winner in ICC tournaments. He bowls at the death when batsmen are trying to score runs quickly. He bowls yorkers that batsmen cannot hit. He is impressive because he has reinvented the fast bowling technique for Indian fast bowlers. His bowling action is unusual. He has a short run up and a slinging arm action. Coaches used to say that the action was wrong. Bumrah proves them wrong. Now young fast bowlers copy his action. He has 22.1 million followers on Instagram. He endorses brands and appears in advertisements. He changed what Indian fast bowling looks like.

7. Sunil Chhetri (Football)

Sunil Chhetri is the all-time top scorer for the Indian men’s football team. He is a legend and former captain of Indian football. He is known for his leadership and discipline. He has scored over ninety goals for India which is extraordinary. He is influential because he brought cricket out of its shadow and made football visible in India. Cricket dominates the Indian sports media. Football struggles for attention. Chhetri kept it alive. He scored goals, led teams and inspired young footballers. He has 8.8 million followers on Instagram. He is younger than cricket stars but much bigger for Indian football. He endorses brands and speaks about football. He is the face of Indian football.

8. Neeraj Chopra (Athletics Javelin)

Neeraj Chopra is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion in javelin throw. He is India’s most famous track and field athlete. He won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. It was India’s first Olympic athletics gold in over a century. He inspired a generation of throwers. He is influential because he sparked interest in athletics across the country. Athletics was neglected in India before Chopra. After his gold medal, kids wanted to throw javelin. States set up javelin training centers. Coaches appeared. He has 9 million followers on Instagram. He endorses brands and appears in advertisements. He made athletics great in India.

9. P V Sindhu (Badminton)

P V Sindhu is an Olympic silver and bronze medalist in badminton. She is a former world champion. She is the global ambassador of Indian badminton. She won silver in the 2016 Olympics and bronze in the 2020 Olympics. She is influential because she made badminton a mainstream sport in India. Before her badminton was niche. After her success it became popular. Children joined badminton academies. Parents encouraged their daughters to play. She has 3.9 million followers on Instagram. She endorses brands and appears in advertisements. She showed that Indian athletes can win Olympic medals in sports other than wrestling and shooting.

10. Manu Bhaker (Shooting)

Manu Bhaker is an Olympic medal-winning pistol shooter. She is one of India’s brightest young sports stars. She represents a new generation of Indian athletes. She won medals at the Paris Olympics, which revived interest in shooting. She is impressive because her success has brought mainstream attention back to shooting sports. Shooting used to get attention only during the Olympics. Bhaker is in the news all year round. She has 1.5 million followers on Instagram and is growing rapidly. She promotes brands and inspires young shooters. She is young and her influence will grow.

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