Tendulkar among 50 most influential people on Twitter

FORMER India captain Sachin Tendulkar has found his name among the 50 most influential people on Twitter this year, according to an annual research conducted by UK-based consumer intelligence company Brandwatch.

The legendary batter is ranked above popular American actors such as Dwayne Johnson and Leonardo Di Caprio.

American singer Taylor Swift was at the No.1 spot while Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was at the second spot. Swift has nearly 89 million followers on Twitter while Modi has 72.5 million. Tendulkar has 36.2 million.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 1, 2021. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Explaining Tendulkar’s inclusion in the elite list, the research cited his “appreciable real work for the less fortunate, lending his voice and presence for the right causes, his inspired fans following his work and his partner brands’ relevant impactful campaigns” as the reason.

The 48-year-old former cricketer, who has been a member of Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian parliament, is associated with the United Nations Children’s Fund for more than a decade and was also appointed as the ambassador for South Asia in 2013.

Tendulkar has backed several initiatives on health, education and sports in both rural and urban India.

Brandwatch uses social media data to give information to companies and help them analyse their brands’ online presence.