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Jay Shah (Source: X)
The Indian Express on Thursday (February 29) released the list of the top 100 most powerful Indians. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – the most powerful Indian, the list is dominated by politicians, or in fact, the BJP, with most of them featuring in the top 10. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is the second most powerful Indian.
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From the cricket fraternity, Indian Cricket Board Secretary Jay Shah and three other star cricketers have made it to the list. While Shah is ranked 35th, batting stalwart Virat Kohli is ranked 38th, the most powerful Indian among sports persons. Legendary captain MS Dhoni and current national team captain Rohit Sharma are the other two cricketers on the list at 58th and 68th position, respectively.
How do these four make it to the elite list?
Jay Shah
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Jay Shah, the son of the Union Home Minister, is not only the most powerful figure in the Indian sports arena but also the most powerful man in world cricket. The Indian Cricket Board is the richest cricket governing body in the world, and Shah was instrumental in nearly doubling the board's share of the Cricket Governing Body's revenue (from 22.8 percent to 38.5 percent). The 35-year-old is already the youngest Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and is set to become the chairman of the global governing body.
Virat Kohli
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Ace cricketer Virat Kohli is a brand and face of world cricket. With over 260 million followers on Instagram, Kohli is one of the most influential sportspersons in the world and the top among Asians. Since making his debut for Team India in 2008, the right-hander has been a key cog in the team and has emerged as the backbone of the batting unit. Holder of numerous world records, the 35-year-old inspires budding talents with his on-field prowess, determination and work ethic.
MS Dhoni
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Legendary skipper and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is one of the most loved and influential cricketers in the world. Although retired from international cricket and not active, the 42-year-old is always trending on social media for various reasons. Winning three major international trophies, the charismatic leader led India to greater heights. Dhoni's last ball six that won the 2011 World Cup will be remembered forever. He has also led Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to glory five times, making them one of the most successful franchises. IPL 2024 is rumored to be his last dance as a player.
Rohit Sharma
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Rohit Sharma is one of the most influential active Indian cricketers. The 36-year-old has led India tremendously well in the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to Australia in the final. Apart from his captaincy brilliance, the Hitman also performed remarkably well as a batter. The veteran opener currently leads the national team in all formats of the game. He is also named as the captain of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rohit is one of the most successful captains in the history of the IPL as he led Mumbai Indians to glory for a record five times.