Virat Kohli has had a big week off the field. The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 puts his wealth at Rs 1,600 crore, making him the richest cricketer on the list, and his former India coach Rahul Dravid has just named him as the teammate most likely to succeed as a Bollywood actor.

Here is a clear look at both stories.

Virat Kohli's Rs 1,600 crore net worth, explained

According to Mint's breakdown of the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026, only seven actors and cricketers made the list. Shah Rukh Khan leads the group, followed by Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan. The three cricketers are Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Mint reports that cricketers feature as a separate group for the first time. Kohli leads them at Rs 1,600 crore, placing fifth among the seven entries. Tendulkar and Dhoni are listed at Rs 1,500 crore each, Rs 100 crore behind Kohli. Together the three cricketers account for Rs 4,600 crore, Mint says. CNBC TV18 also lists Kohli among the seven celebrity names on the 2026 list.

These are estimates published by Hurun rather than audited personal accounts, and they include business interests and investments as well as earnings from the game.

Where Kohli's wealth comes from

Mint notes that the Hurun report credits the cricketers with turning playing careers into brands, endorsements and investment holdings. In Kohli's case, Mint lists the following:

He co-founded the fashion label Wrogn and the brand one8, and co-owns the One8 Commune restaurants. He also reportedly holds stakes in Go Digit Insurance, Rage Coffee and Blue Tribe.

Then there is advertising. Kohli has been one of India's most visible faces in brand campaigns for years, which brings us to the second story of the week.

Rahul Dravid on Kohli as a Bollywood actor

In a chat with BBC Asian Network, with Abhishek Bachchan also present, Dravid was asked which of his teammates would make the best Bollywood actor, The Indian Express reports. He first joked about cricketers who had tried acting: "Sunil Gavaskar tried to act. Syed Kirmani tried to act, without much success. Ajay Jadeja did one film. Good thing they stuck to the cricket."

Asked whether he would try it himself, Dravid laughed: "No. I know what my strengths are. I'm not making a fool of myself."

Then he named Kohli. "I think Virat has got a tremendous ability to mimic. He mimics people really well. He doesn't do it very often nowadays, but I remember him as a young kid coming into the team when we were all seniors and... Like, his ability to mimic people was absolutely superb. And he has done so many ad films. He is pretty much a pro at it."

The interviewer then mentioned Kohli's wife, actor Anushka Sharma, saying, "I am sure Anushka can give him some tips." As The Indian Express points out, Virat and Anushka first met on the set of an ad film.

Not everyone thinks he should switch careers

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has previously spoken about the same idea, in a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia quoted by The Indian Express. "He is already a great actor," Chhabra said, praising how Kohli has handled success and maintained his fitness and focus.

But Chhabra's advice was to stay put. "He is also so funny. He will dance, mimic, his comic timing is great. He is doing very well in making the country proud, he should stay where he is and not join films. He should not join films even after retiring from his cricket career."

Kohli has not appeared in a Bollywood film, and there is no indication that he plans to. For now, the screen time comes from ads, and the Hurun list suggests that business is doing just fine.

FAQ

What is Virat Kohli's net worth in 2026?

The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 estimates Virat Kohli's wealth at Rs 1,600 crore, the highest among the three cricketers on the list, according to Mint.

Which cricketers are on the Hurun India Rich List 2026?

Virat Kohli at Rs 1,600 crore, and Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni at Rs 1,500 crore each, Mint reports.

What did Rahul Dravid say about Virat Kohli acting?

On BBC Asian Network, Dravid said Kohli has a tremendous ability to mimic people and has done so many ad films that he is pretty much a pro at it, as reported by The Indian Express.

Cover photo: Anand Anil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0