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There are many people out there striving to make a living from playing sports, and sadly, not everyone will hit the big time. Competition is fierce, and being successful requires a blend of many elements, including raw talent, dedication, coaching, practice, and hard work.
As well as competing, some play sport for fun, some simply watch it, while others bet on it at an online sportsbook. However, some people do succeed in forging a sports career, and make an excellent living while doing so. Here we detail seven of the richest sportspeople in India as of August 2021, according to Business Connect.
P. V. Sindhu is a successful badminton player worth $10 million. She was able to build up that sum playing sports, as well as endorsements through companies such as Gatorade and Bridgestone Tyres. P. V. Sindhu not only makes money but has donated a portion to a relief fund.
Making his international debut against Pakistan in 2012, cricket player Bhuvneshwar Kumar has amassed a fortune worth INR 65 Crore. Kumar has been a regular in the Indian Cricket Team while also playing for Hyderabad Sunrisers and Uttar Pradesh in the Indian Premier League.
Sania Mirza hails from Hyderabad and is an Indian tennis player who has won 6 grand slams and was ranked one of the best doubles players in the world. In her time, Sania Mirza has amassed a net worth of INR 170 crore and holds the title of the highest-paid female sportsperson in India.
With an annual income put at INR 54.29 crore, Rohit Sharma is recognisable as a member of the Mumbai Indians and the Indian cricket team. As well to cricket, Rohit Sharma has represented over 20 brands in India, bringing in additional endorsement money.
Sachin Tendulkar is an internationally famous cricket star with a net worth estimated to be as high as $150 million. He is considered by many to be one of the best batsmen of all time and was the first cricket player to sign an INR 100 Crore deal with Madras Rubber Factory back in 2001.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni played for the Indian cricket team from 2007-2016 as well as the Chennai Super Kings. Along with a successful cricket career, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also endorsed a range of brands, said to charge 4-6 crore per day.
Virat Kohli is an award-winning cricket player who has captained the Indian cricket team. Some say he was the highest-paid athlete in India in 2021 and partnered with his wife as Myntra brand ambassadors.
If you were looking for some motivation to help you push through your next training session or were simply curious about who some of the highest-paid athletes in India are, we hope this list helps.
Remember, highest-paid lists do chop and change over time and estimating a person’s net worth can be a bit hit or miss. However, it is safe to say that the players on the list have been highly successful in their sport and have reaped financial benefits as a result.