1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
No better start than the one with the "God of Cricket" himself, with a commendable career of 23 years. Master Blaster, with hundreds of records, has undoubtedly placed himself in millions of hearts across the globe. After he retires from Cricket, his involvement in sports continues. He owned Kerala Blasters (franchise of Indian Super League), which he further gave up. He also happens to be the co-owner of Bengaluru Blasters (franchise of Premiere Badminton League). In 2016, SRT, a Sports Management Company, was launched by him. He is the UNICEF ambassador for Hygiene & Sanitation and actively participates in projects like "spreading happiness" to provide electricity to deprived areas. Apart from the stadium, he also moved to the studio to win more hearts when he held collaborations with Sonu Nigam for the song 'Cricketwalli Beat' and other advertisement projects.
2 Kapil Dev (India)
"The Haryana Hurricane," wrote history when he lifted the country's first-ever World Cup in 1983. Kapil Dev's outstanding contribution in Cricket as an all-rounder makes him unforgettable. He remained in the stadium as a commentator for several matches after his retirement in 1994. Due to his current health conditions, he has not been in the commentary box for now. His tap in the business world has been as great as his sports career. Not only does he has endorsements of multiple brands, but also he has his own company, namely, Dev Musco Lighting Pvt. Ltd. Apart from holding stakes in the upliftment of Indian Cricket, the legendary Cricketer also holds a 5% stake in Zicom electronics. Adding to it, he also has his restaurant and a hotel in his hometown Chandigarh.
3 Brian Lara (West Indies)
Being the most lauded Trinidadian Cricketer, Brian Lara announced his retirement in 2007. The history of the Cricket has recorded his journey with no doubt. However, this aggression on-field is compassion off-field. His charitable deeds speak for the statement. After his retirement, he has raised funds by playing the current Australian Bushfire charity match; charity matches for Uttarakhand flood victims, and several others. He also opened a charity golf tournament in Mahalaxmi, and this way, he has never disconnected himself from sports in reality. Over the years, he has also made himself one of the people's favorite commentators, where his commentaries during the Indian Premier League are highly appreciated. He has also signed endorsements with brands.
4 MS Dhoni (India)
Our 'Captain cool' is wise enough to invest in business ventures alongside Cricket. Having retired from international Cricket, he plays domestic matches for Chennai Super Kings (Indian Premier League). Being a fitness freak, Dhoni has stakes in Sports Fit and Rhiti Sports (India- based fitness brand). Chennai is his lucky side; He too owns Chennaiyin FC (ISL Club). He also owns a footwear brand in Seven (lifestyle brand).
5 Ian Botham (England)
There are no hesitations when we claim him to be one of the greatest all-rounders in the pages of Cricket. The English Cricket team owes a lot to him for sure After retiring from international Cricket in 1992, he was seen carrying up cricket commentaries. His involvement as an analyst in Sky sports continued for several years. He is a member of the House Of Lords. Since 2017, he has been the Durham County Cricket Club's chairman. His prodigy in charitable fundraising is noticeable, which he started in his early life in Cricket. His fundraising for the children who have leukemia was in the headlines, after which he was appointed as the first-ever president of the "Blood-wise" (UK- based blood-cancer charity).
6 Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Ricky Ponting has been one of the most uncompromised Aussie in Cricket. He owns a sharp blade and is one of the most successful Australian captains of all time. He announced his retirement from international Cricket in 2012. But his role as a coach is no less to be left unnoticed In 2019, he was appointed as assistant coach to the Australian Men's Cricket team and served as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals at the Indian Premier League 2021. He stepped into the world of business in 2020 & launched his wine business. His wine label is named 'Ponting Wines' and "close of Play" his first champagne.
7 Imran Khan (Pakistan)
As if the fame achieved in his cricket journey wasn't enough, Imran Khan contested for the post of Prime Minister in his home country, Pakistan, which he won. The life after Cricket for Khan has been the most glorious and famous of all of his time. No doubt he was the ace of the Pakistan Cricket team and led them towards victory in the 1992 World Cup. He continues working for his country, being the 22nd Prime Minister. He is the founder of Namal College and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf, of which he continues to be the chairman. His contribution in pieces written was also seen in Guardian, The Independent, Telegraph, and India's Outlook magazine. In 2005, he was also elected as the chancellor of the University of Bradford.
8 Gary Kirsten (South Africa)
This South African Cricketer is not only loved in his country but also in India. His role as a coach in the 2011 ICC World Cup for India was remarkable. To remain connected with his passion sport, he has his own Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy. His business venture is equally successful as well. He has launched Gary Kirsten Travels & Tours in collaboration with Cape Africa tours. He, too, stands as the co-owner of a company named Performance Zone, formed in 2007.
9. Mahela Jayawardene And Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Partners on and off-field, this duo is an exemplary illustration of friendship built over the sport. Claiming to be food lovers, they have opened restaurants named 'Ministry of Crab' in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They are also planning to open their branch in Mumbai, says Jayawardene, and we are now wide-eyed!
10 Chris Gayle (West Indies)
Hitting boundaries not only in Cricket but also in business and fashion, Chris Gayle is undoubtedly the 'Universe Boss.' He has his own sports bar named Triple Century 333 and a restaurant situated in Jamaica. Attitude.com (alternative fashion brand) also has him as its ambassador. He has also invested in FlippAR (Bengaluru) and IONA (Gaming venture).
