MS Dhoni has emerged as the second most visible celebrity on Indian television in the first half of 2025, according to TAM AdEx’s TV advertising report (January–June). The former India captain and CSK icon trailed only Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in terms of screen presence across TV ads.
Despite being second in visibility, Dhoni outshone several top-tier celebrities and athletes, including Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anushka Sharma, and Virat Kohli. His consistent presence in ad campaigns has reinforced his enduring appeal among brands and audiences alike.
In terms of brand endorsements, Dhoni led the charts with 43 brands under his belt in just six months, surpassing his own tally of 42 from the previous year. This figure also exceeded Amitabh Bachchan’s total endorsements for the entire year of 2024.
Shah Rukh Khan followed Dhoni in brand count with 35 endorsements, while veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan came in third with 28. The data highlights Dhoni’s continued dominance in the advertising space, even post-retirement from international cricket.
Adding to his public visibility, Dhoni was recently spotted at the US Open on September 3, enjoying the high-profile match between Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic and American player Taylor Fritz. The appearance further cemented his image as a global sports enthusiast.
Dhoni averaged an impressive 22 hours of TV ad visibility per day, contributing approximately 7% to the total ad volume across all television channels. This makes him one of the most bankable faces in Indian advertising.
Other cricketers who made it to the list of most visible TV celebrities included Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. Dravid had an average daily visibility of 6.4 hours, while Kohli clocked in at 6.3 hours. Both contributed around 2% each to the overall ad volume.
Anushka Sharma, actor and wife of Virat Kohli, also featured prominently, ranking 8th with an average of 6.8 hours of daily TV ad visibility. Her presence further underscores the strong crossover between Bollywood and sports in brand endorsements.
