The growth of football in India over the last few years has been significant. Tournaments like the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, and a few local football leagues in India give the players a platform to showcase their talent. Also, increased media coverage, corporate investments, and sponsorship take the sport to the next level. As far as India, cricket is the most popular sport in the country. In the emergence of football, the sponsorships and investments played a huge role in creating an infrastructure and some of the Indian cricketers have also owned a football team or a part of stakes in the football team.
The Indian cricketers have played a huge role by investing in a football team. At the same time, they promote football by engaging their name with the football club or owning a football club. Today, we will see the Indian cricketers who own a football club. We will also see how they played a big role in the growth of the sport. So let’s dive into it quickly.
List of Indian Cricketers who own a football club
(1) Sourav Ganguly (ATK Mohun Bagan)
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was a co-owner of ATK (Atlético de Kolkata), which later merged with the historic club Mohun Bagan to form ATK Mohun Bagan. The former Indian captain came from the state of Kolkata, which is popularly known as a football-loving state. There is a strong passion for football as a sport in the state. Ganguly’s association with the club helped in building a strong connection with the football-loving community of Kolkata.
Under Ganguly’s co-ownership, ATK became the most successful ISL team, winning the title three times (2014, 2016, and 2020). His influence has played a key role in further solidifying Kolkata’s position as the football capital of India and promoting the game in West Bengal.
(2) MS Dhoni (Chennaiyin FC)
We all know the story of MS Dhoni and his love for Football. It has been shown in his movie as well that he used to play Football before coming into cricket. He is another iconic Indian cricketer and a passionate football fan, co-owns Chennaiyin FC in the ISL alongside Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan. Dhoni has always expressed his love for football, and through his ownership of Chennaiyin FC, he has contributed to the sport’s growth, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Chennaiyin FC has experienced great success under Dhoni’s ownership, taking home the ISL title twice (in 2015 and 2018). In addition to attracting supporters from the cricket community, Dhoni’s presence has assisted in growing football’s popularity in southern India.
(3) Virat Kohli (FC Goa)
FC (Football Club) Goa is one of the top-performing clubs in the ISL. Virat Kohli is another Indian cricketer who owns a football club, helping the sport to become more popular in Goa and beyond. He is a co-owner of FC Goa in ISL.
The necessity of growing football in India has been frequently discussed by Kohli, who has been outspoken in his enthusiasm for the game. Football has become more well-known in Goa and abroad thanks to the popularity of FC Goa and the brand value of Kohli. Cricket fans are now more aware of football because to his aggressive promotion of the game.
FC Goa has been a consistent performer in the ISL and even became the first Indian club to qualify for the AFC Champions League in 2021.
(4) Sanju Samson (Mallapuram FC)
One of the other Indian cricketers and a captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) franchise, Sanju Samson co-owns a football club called Mallapuram FC. It’s a franchise that plays in the Super League Kerala. Mallapuram FC has some elite players and rapidly becoming recognized. Notable players like Alejandro Sanchez and Pedro Manzi, past I-League Golden Boot winners, have joined the team.
(5) Robin Singh (RoundGlass Punjab FC)
Robin Singh is not a big name in Indian cricket like Virat Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Sanju Samson, but he also made an impact in football by co-owning RoundGlass Punjab FC, a team that competes in the I-League. The I-league is not as big a football league as ISL, but played an important role in Indian Football’s grassroots development.
Singh’s involvement demonstrates that Indian cricketers are invested in supporting football across different levels in the country.
(6) Sachin Tendulkar* (Kerala Blasters FC)
(*) NOTE: Sachin Tendulkar is not a co-owner of the club now.
One of the greatest Indian cricketers and considered as God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar was also involved in a football club investment in the past. He used to co-own Kerala Blasters FC in ISL until 2021.
With one of the biggest ISL fan bases, Kerala Blasters FC was able to establish a football culture in the state thanks in part to Sachin’s influence. Even though he has since given up his ownership stake, he has made a substantial contribution to Keralan football.
↻ The Growth of Women’s Cricket | Major Tournaments in 2024
Conclusion
So these are the Indian cricketers who own a Football Club. The involvement of these cricketing icons has significantly contributed to the growth of football in India, bringing the sport into the mainstream and helping bridge the gap between cricket and football.
FAQs:-
(1) Has any Indian cricketer owned a Football Club or a part of stakes in Football leagues outside India?
Yes, MS Dhoni became a part-owner of an overseas football club when he acquired a stake in Chennaiyin FC’s sister club in Dubai, UAE, called Chennaiyin FC Dubai, which competes in local football competitions. However, there isn’t significant ownership involvement by Indian cricketers in major overseas football leagues (like European or South American leagues) yet.
(2) Who are the current champions of ISL?
Mumbai City is the current champion of ISL. They have won two titles in the tournament so far.
(3) Which Indian Footballer has appeared in most games in the ISL history?
Pritam Kotal has appeared in most ISL games so far. He has appeared in 162 games in the tournament.
