Former India national cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, widely known as MS Dhoni amongst cricket fans, continues to rule the advertising world, despite having retired from international cricket in 2020. Dhoni, who was last seen for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has topped the celebrity endorsement list for 2024, from the period between January and June. In a report published by TAM AdEx, Dhoni is the leading endorsee for the first half of 2024, with as many as 42 brand endorsements. All the ads taken into consideration were from television, where the five-time IPL winner captain edged Bollywood celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan (41), Shah Rukh Khan (34), Kareena Kapoor (31), and Akshay Kumar (28).  ‘Thala for a Reason!’ Eagle-Eyed Fans Make MS Dhoni Reference After Spotting Point No 7 for ‘Uncapped Players’ in IPL Retention Rules.

While actors contributed 75 % of the total  32 % of TV ads, athletes came in second with 14 % of screen time. Dhoni's endorsement includes brands ranging from spices, paints, watches, and electronic commerce-gaming. On the cricketing front, Dhoni is expected to be retained by CSK in the upcoming IPL Mega Auction for the 2025 season as the IPL Governing Council announces retentional rules for players who have been away from international cricket for over five years. As per new guidelines, any player who has not featured in international cricket for five or more years will go into auction in the uncapped category.  MS Dhoni Spotted Riding Bike On the Streets of Jharkhand, Ex-CSK Cricketer Filmed By A Fan (Watch Video).

However, It will be interesting to see if Dhoni does feature in the upcoming IPL 2025 given the constant problems with his knee and being away from in-field action for almost a year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2024 11:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).