Indian cricket-loving tourists spend $1.2 billion in the last 12 months while visiting for tour

Indian run-making machine Virat Kohli and his Bollywood superstar wife, who are described as the Posh and Becks of India, are spearheading an Indian summer of cricket that will help pour billions into the Australian economy.

• Inside the rich lives of Indian cricket stars WAGS

Indian run-making machine Virat Kohli and his Bollywood superstar wife are spearheading an Indian summer of cricket that will help pour more than $1.5 billion into the Australian economy.

Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma are the Posh and Becks of India with more than 100 million followers on social media and a net worth estimated at $120 million.

And Federal Tourism minister Simon Birmingham believes Australia can cash in on their huge international following.

“Just having these superstars share their travel experiences with their millions of social media followers back in India gives us a huge opportunity to put more tourism runs on the board for Australia,” he said.

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is one of the most popular players from their side. Picture. Phil Hillyard

His Bollywood superstar wife has a huge following in India.

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Kohli yesterday spent the day honing his trademark aggressive batting style in the nets at the Sydney Cricket Ground where the night before he had led his team to victory against Australia in the Twenty20.

Every ball was met with a roar from the almost 40,000 largely blue-shirted Indian fans who believe Kohli can lead India to its first ever test series victory in Australia.

Tourism Australia said Indian tourists have spent more than $1.5 billion here over the past 12 months with visitors already up 20 per cent on last year to 342,200.

Indian visitors on average stay for 58 nights and spend almost $5000 a trip.

Indian cricket supporters are among the most passionate sports fans in the world. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

There were constant cheers from the 40,000-strong crowd for each ball. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Christo

“I trust the thousands of Indian visitors who will flock to our shores will not only add to the atmosphere at our great cricket grounds but will also have a cracking time as they inject millions of dollars into local businesses and our overall economy,” Mr Birmingham said.

While Kohli was in the nets yesterday opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was taking in the sights on the harbour and still buzzing from the night before.

“Our support also has grown because we have been playing well and we play in a nice way.

“We also like to entertain people, that’s why I do my thigh five … the crowd respond to it.

And if I can make people smile — why not?”

Support has grown since India played to a packed out 95,000 strong crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the World Cup in 2015.

Federal Tourism minister Simon Birmingham said Australia could cash in on the star players’ big following. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

For Dhawan the key to their success on the pitch and with the fans is the captain.

“Kohli is a big performer for us and he has grown as a captain, he is leader from the front — his bat is always talking,” he said.

“We all look up to him and we learn from him.”

Dhawan is married to Indian-born, Australian-raised Ayesha Mukherjee who is an amateur boxer and runs their home décor brand.

Kohli’s wife Sharma is expected to be in Sydney in time to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on December 11.

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan said the whole team looks up to their captain Kohli and learn from him. Picture: Supplied

Dhawan’s wife is Indian-born Australian-raised Ayesha Mukherjee. Picture: Instagram/@shikhardofficial

Pawan Luthra, CEO of Sydney based media organisation Indian Link, said Kohli and his Bollywood star wife are the Indian equivalent of David Beckham and his Posh Spice wife Victoria.

“Cricket and Bollywood are the biggest things to come out of India and these two are at the very top of both,” he said.

“Cricket is like religion in India and these cricketers are the living gods, their presence is the only thing Indians in Sydney are talking about.

“The Indian community in Australia have become stalkers, they want to know every movement the team makes. “Obviously the prize is a photo with one of their heroes.”

He said on the last tour batsman Ajinkya Rahane and his wife Radhika Dhopavkar were regularly seen shopping in Pitt Street mall.

Other team members partied at The Ivy on George Street.

The powerful couple of Kohli and Sharma are see as “living gods” in India as cricket is such a big part of their culture. Picture: Instagram/@anushkasharma

During the last tour the Indian team ate at Masala Theory in Surry Hills and Manjit’s at the Wharf in Lime Street. They also visited Billu’s at Harris Park.

“But that is a street of Indian restaurants with maybe 3000 people out and about every night — I think the team will need extra security to go there,” Mr Luthra said.

And according to former Australian captain Ian Chappell those fans may have something to cheer about with Kohli leading a cracking team.

“The Indian attack is the best suited to Australian conditions I have ever seen,” he said. Aussies going to a test match would be well advised to take ear plugs.

In the crowd will be Ishant Sharma’s wife Pratima Singh and Dinesh Karthik’s wife Dipika Pallikal who have both achieved sporting success in their own rights. Pallikal is a top squash player and Singh is a member of the Indian women’s basketball team.