Cricket’s highest scoring brand partnerships

The life of an international sportsperson has never been so highly paid and a great deal of the income comes not always from playing but also from the sponsorship deals that players can strike with brands in all kinds of sectors. Where the player in question is required to do a little more than appear in advertising or carry the logo on their clothing or equipment they enter the more elevated world of brand ambassadorship. Same is the case with cricket as well.

It’s a popular marketing ploy used by everyone from sports equipment manufacturers to online casinos and the theory is that there will be a halo effect from the player’s reputation and popularity – although this can sometimes backfire should the sportsperson in question show a dip in form or even be involved in a dubious activity. For example, it’s fairly safe to say that it will be a long time before Steve Smith or David Warner will be invited to be anyone’s brand ambassadors again.

But there are a number of professional cricketers who do sterling work for some very different brands – and here are five prime examples.

Virat Kohli

With a population of over 1.3 billion, many of whom are devout cricket fans, it’s no surprise that the Indian team are so in demand as brand ambassadors. King of them all was surely Tendulkar but Virat Kohli does pretty well too with deals in place with everyone from Tissot watches to UBER India.

MS Dhoni

As you’d also expect, brands don’t just see Dhoni as a safe pair of hands when he’s behind the stumps. His dashing character and film-star looks have made him the choice of a long list of brands including Gulf Oil India, Indigo Paints and the Dream 11 fantasy sports platform.

Shane Warne

It may even be possible that Shane Warne has gone on to become even more famous since he decided to hang up the baggy green cap thanks to celebrity romances and a high profile commentating career. He’s also the rather unlikely brand ambassador for the male hair loss treatment Advanced Hair Studio, and honour he shares with Graham Gooch.

Jonathan Trott

The Warwickshire and England player was recently unveiled as the brand ambassador for the Birmingham-based wealth managers Brewin Dolphin. As the firm’s business development director has commented, “Jonathan is a good example of someone who imbues the values of hard work, discipline and commitment, and he is a great role model for his sport” making him exactly the right kind of sportsman to represent a financial services company.

AB de Villiers

In 2017 the luxury goods brand Montblanc announced that the South African batsman/wicketkeeper would be representing them. In making the announcement the parallels were drawn between the disruptive style of his play and the innovative nature of Montblanc which has diversified over the years from being a fine fountain pen maker to offering everything from smart devices to top quality luggage.

With many emerging talents coming up through the ranks, from England’s Sam Curran to India’s Rishabh Pant, the next generation of brand ambassadors are surely being lined up to replace the current crop. But, as Shane Warne has shown, there’s always going to be a  space for elder statesmen to have a role too – even if it’s for treatments to reverse a spreading bald patch!