In the list of 100 most powerful Indians made by IE, there are a few celebrated sports personalities. Let us have a look at these elite athletes who have made it into the directory alongside BCCI secretary Jay Shah.

The BCCI secretary has not only been instrumental in the rise of Indian cricket on the global stage but also helped take cricket to the Olympics. Shah is also the youngest ever to become the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief. In Stewardship India hosted a successful 2023 World Cup and launched the Women's Premier League (WPL)

Virat Kohli (Cricketer)Ranked - 38

The former Indian skipper is arguably the most influential person in cricket. Recently in 2023, the batter became the first player ever to score 50 ODI 100s in the format during the semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai. In addition to his on-field heroics, Kohli has a whooping 266 million followers on Instagram

Neeraj Chopra (Javalin)Ranked - 46

After winning the Olympic gold medal Neeraj Chopra continued his impressive performances last year. He finished second place finish at the Diamond League finals an upgrade from silver to gold at the World Championships and Asian games title. In addition to his on-field accolades, he has also emerged as the most sought-after non-cricket athlete for brand endorsements.

MS Dhoni (Cricketer)Ranked - 58

The Chennai Super Kings skipper is regarded as one of the most influential cricketers alongside Virat Kohli and many players who have played under Dhoni admire him for his leadership skills. The 42-year-old has led the IPL franchise CSK for its fifth title equalling the record of Mumbai Indians for the most number IPLtrophies.

Rohit Sharma (Cricketer)Ranked - 68

The Indian skipper has been influential in the transition of the Indian side from the older generation to the younger one. Though he lost the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad the Indian skipper was scintillating with the bat coming at the top of the order and led the team by example on who he wanted the team to play. The team went on a 10-match unbeaten run into the finals against Australia.

Vinesh Phogat (Wrestler)Ranked - 100

The 29-year-old was the face of the wrestlers' protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Vinesh was the first who accuse the BJP MP of sexual harassment.