Virat Kohli set to surpass MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar in endorsement earnings: Reports

Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli has made his mark on the field with the exploits with the bat. Also, his charm, good looks and attitude have ensured that he is a hit off the field as well. Kohli has reportedly signed a Rs 10-crore per year deal with German sports goods giants Adidas, which is said to be the most lucrative contract signed by an Indian sportsperson. The three-year deal will see the 24-year-old endorsing the brand's shoes and apparel.

Recently Kohli was sued by rival sports brand Nike for an alleged breach of contract. However, the Karnantaka High Court ruled in favour of the batsman, allowing him to sign with other brands. Kohli and Nike were in a five-year deal, signed in 2008.

According to reports in a leading newspaper, Kohli has also recently signed with a tyre manufacturer, which is currently endorsed by Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh as well. The 6.5-crore per annum deal is expected to take the him past Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Tendulkar in annual endorsement earnings.

Kohli is estimated to have earned around Rs 40-crore last year from brand endorsements, but that amount is expected to substantially increase with these two new deals. Currently Kohli endorses 13 brands, including Toyota, Pepsi and Cinthol.

On the cricket field, Kohli is being groomed as the future captain of the Indian cricket team, while in the world of advertising, he is being seen as the perfect person to replace Tendulkar. From Rs 3-crore a year ago, Kohli's brand value has risen to 10-crore, which puts him in the same league as Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor.

"For the past few years, Dhoni has been ruling the endorsement space, but Kohli is catching up very fast. While Dhoni connected well with the masses, Kohli has more urban appeal which a lot of brands want to cash in on," Indranil Das Blah, COO of a celebrity management firm was quoted as saying by the daily.