Contributed by : Vinitha Vankayalapati
Cricket is more than just a sport in India, it’s a religion that has a considerable following. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most significant cricket leagues in the world, and it’s not just popular in India, but also globally. One of the reasons for the league’s success is the star-studded teams that participate in it, with players from around the world showcasing their skills on the field. But the excitement doesn’t stop there, as the teams’ off-field presence is equally attractive. One can gauge the popularity of these teams by looking at their social media following, especially on Instagram. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of IPL cricket and uncover the most popular teams on Instagram, and the reasons behind their massive fan following.
All these numbers are based on data on 16th April, 2023.
10. Lucknow Super Giants – 1.9 million followers
In 2022, a new team called Lucknow Super Giants was introduced, with Gautham Gambir as their mentor, K L Rahul as their captain, and Andy Flower as their coach. They secured the third position on the table by the end of their matches. Despite the impressive performances of key players such as K L Rahul, Avesh Khan, and Quinton de Kock, the team lost their eliminator match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, which resulted in their exit from the tournament. K L Rahul secured the second-highest position in terms of scoring runs, whereas Quinton de Kock came in third. They are currently performing well to reach the finals.
9. Gujarat Titans – 2.3 million followers
The Gujarat Titans, the youngest team in IPL, emerged victorious in their debut season in 2022, led by captain Hardik Pandya and coach Ashish Nehra. Despite starting with low expectations, their exceptional performance and players like Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, and David Miller helped them become the second team to win the IPL Cup in their inaugural season by defeating the Rajasthan Royals in the finals. As they continued to dominate their opponents, the team’s popularity grew exponentially, attracting fans to watch their live matches and follow their every move online. With a determination to succeed, the Gujarat Titans have established themselves as one of the most adored teams in IPL history, constantly inspiring and thrilling fans worldwide, both on and off the field.
8. Punjab Kings – 2.9 million followers
The Kings Punjab is a team that has qualified for playoffs of the IPL only twice in their 15-year journey. In their debut match, they secured the second position, and in 2014 they were the runners-up under the captaincy of K L Rahul. Despite not having won any IPL cup, their fan base has remained strong. Currently, the team is being led by captain Shikar Dhawan and coached by Trevor Bayliss. Preity Zinta, one of the franchise owners, is a vital pillar of the team’s popularity. The team made history in the IPL bidding by offering 18.5 crores for Sam Curran. Let’s hope they win the championship this season and secure their first IPL Cup victory.
7. Rajasthan Royals – 3 million followers
Rajasthan Royals, who won the IPL Cup in their debut season, have consistently delivered satisfying performances for their fans. Throughout their 13-year journey in the IPL, they have made it to the playoffs five times, clinched the trophy once, and finished as runners-up in 2022. However, on other occasions, they have been eliminated during the playoffs. Sanju Samson serves as the captain while Kumar Sangakkara fulfills the role of coach for the team. Among the prominent players in this team are Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Having a solid batting line-up is crucial for winning matches, and the team is well-equipped in this regard. Hopefully, they will emerge victorious in the 2023 IPL season and reclaim their former glory.
6. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 3.1 million followers
“Once upon a time! There lived a ghost!! He was known to be a killer!!!” And that ghost is known as Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team has made it to the playoffs in 6 out of the 10 seasons they have participated in the IPL. They emerged as the winners of the 2016 IPL season and were the runner-up in 2018. The team has a strong following among cricket fans in Hyderabad, which is their home ground. Whenever a match is held at the Uppal Stadium, the venue is filled with enthusiastic supporters of the Orange Army, who wave their flags and cheer their team on. The team is led by captain Aiden Markram and coach Brian Lara. The team is anticipating winning the championship in the 2023 season with the recent modifications and is eager to bring happiness to the orange army.
5. Delhi Capitals – 3.5 million followers
The Delhi Capitals team has made it to the playoffs on six occasions during their 15-year journey. They were also runners-up in the 2020 season. The team is under the leadership of Captain David Warner and coached by Ricky Pointing. The team was originally known as Delhi Daredevils but was renamed Delhi Capitals in 2018. The team has many key players like Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, and Axar Patel. This team hasn’t secured a victory yet in the 2023 season. Let us hope they finish strong.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders – 3.8 million followers
The IPL franchise known as Kolkata Knight Riders, which is co-owned by Indian celebrities Badsha Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla (along with her husband), has gained significant popularity due to their impressive performances on the field. The team, which wears purple, has made it to the playoffs seven times and has been crowned champions twice (in 2012 and 2014), but unfortunately, they were defeated by the Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 season. This team is led by Nitish Rana and coached by Chandrakant Pandit. The team includes Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine. This year, they have released several players and acquired some new ones in the hopes of winning the cup. It is their aspiration to make it to the playoffs and emerge as champions.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore – 10.4 million followers
RCB is more than just a team, it is an emotion for their fans who remain loyal no matter the outcome of the matches. Despite a track record of losing many matches in the initial stages of each season, the team manages to make it to the playoffs every time. They have been runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016, and have made it to the playoffs eight times in total. The fans have enthusiastically received the team’s slogan “ee sala cup namde”. RCB is known for being the most entertaining team in the IPL, with a record of the highest score of 263 and the lowest score of 49. The team is led by Captain Faf du Plessis and coached by Sanjay Bangar, and boasts key players such as Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. This year, the fans are hopeful that RCB will win the title and bring joy to their loyal supporters.
2. Chennai Super Kings – 11.6 million followers
The Chennai Super Kings, with the highest winning percentage and most appearances in playoffs and finals, have been steadily gaining popularity as the “yellow love” grows day by day. The team has consistently delivered outstanding performances, making it to the playoffs in 11 out of 13 seasons and reaching the finals nine times – the most by any team. They have lifted the trophy four times, in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021, and made a strong comeback after being banned for two years. The team is led by Thala MS Dhoni and coached by Stephen Fleming, and includes key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Chahar, and Ravindra Jadeja. Here’s hoping they will win this season and maintain their position as one of the top teams in the league.
1. Mumbai Indians – 11.7 million followers
With five championship wins and nine playoff appearances in just 15 seasons, the Mumbai Indians hold the record for the most victories among all teams in the Indian Premier League. Apart from a lone defeat in the 2010 finals, they have always emerged victorious in the championship match, winning in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. This team’s management is backed by the strong Reliance Industries, and their popularity is a result of their impressive on-field performance. The team is led by captain Rohit Sharma and coached by Mark Boucher, and boasts key players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Tim David. After failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last two years, they are determined to win this season (2023) and cement their position as the team with the most titles.
In conclusion, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricket league, it’s a phenomenon that has captured the hearts of fans all around the world. The league’s teams have amassed massive followings on social media platforms like Instagram, highlighting the enormous popularity of the sport. The teams’ off-field presence, including their social media handles, plays a vital role in their popularity. In this article, we have looked at the most followed teams on Instagram. Each team has its unique journey and strengths, but they all share a common goal of winning the IPL Cup. Regardless of the team, cricket fans eagerly anticipate each match, cheering their favorite teams on and hoping for their success.
