Contributed by : Vinitha Vankayalapati
Cricket is more than just a sport in India, it is a religion that has a sizeable following. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most important cricket leagues in the world and is popular not only in India but worldwide. One of the reasons for the league’s success is the star-studded teams that participate, with players from all over the world showing off their skills on the pitch. But the excitement doesn’t stop there as the teams’ presence off the pitch is just as appealing. One can gauge the popularity of these teams by looking at their social media following, particularly on Instagram. Let’s dive deep into the world of IPL cricket and discover the most popular teams on Instagram and the reasons for their huge following.
All of these numbers are based on data as of April 16, 2023.
10. Lucknow Super Giants – 1.9 million followers
In 2022, a new team called the Lucknow Super Giants was introduced, with Gautham Gambir as mentor, KL Rahul as captain and Andy Flower as coach. At the end of their games, they secured third place in the table. Despite impressive performances from key players like KL Rahul, Avesh Khan and Quinton de Kock, the team lost their eliminator match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, resulting in elimination from the tournament. KL Rahul secured the second highest place in terms of heats while Quinton de Kock was third. They are currently playing well to reach the final.
9. Gujarat Titans – 2.3 million followers
The Gujarat Titans, the IPL’s youngest team, emerged victorious from their debut season in 2022, led by captain Hardik Pandya and coach Ashish Nehra. Although they started 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 beating the Rajasthan Royals in the final. As they continued to dominate their opponents, the team’s popularity grew exponentially, attracting fans to watch their live games and follow their every move online. With their determination to succeed, the Gujarat Titans have established themselves as one of the most revered teams in IPL history, constantly inspiring and delighting fans worldwide both on and off the pitch.
8. Punjab Kings – 2.9 million followers
The Kings Punjab is a team that has only qualified for the IPL playoffs twice in their 15-year journey. In their debut game they secured second place and in 2014 they became runners-up under the captaincy of KL Rahul. Despite not winning an IPL Cup, their fan base has remained strong. The team is currently led by Captain Shikar Dhawan and coached by Trevor Bayliss. Preity Zinta, one of the franchise owners, is a key pillar of the team’s popularity. The team made history in the IPL bidding by bidding 18.5 crores for Sam Curran. Let’s hope they win the championship this season and secure their first IPL cup win.
7. Rajasthan Royals – 3 million followers
Rajasthan Royals, who won the IPL Cup in their debut season, have consistently given their fans satisfactory performances. During their 13-year journey in the IPL, they have made the playoffs five times, won the trophy once and finished second in 2022. However, on other occasions they have been eliminated during the playoffs. Sanju Samson acts as captain while Kumar Sangakkara fulfills the role of coach for the team. Prominent players on this team include Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler, and Ravichandran Ashwin. A solid batting team is crucial to winning games and the squad is well equipped in that regard. Hopefully they will emerge victorious from the 2023 IPL season and recapture 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 IPL in 6 of the 10 seasons they have competed in Made the playoffs, they emerged as winners of the 2016 IPL season and were runners-up in 2018. The team have a strong following among cricket fans in Hyderabad, their home stadium, and whenever there is a match at Uppal Stadium, the venue is packed with enthusiastic supporters of the Orange Army waving their flags and cheering for their team. The team is led by Captain Aiden Markram and Coach Brian Lara. With the latest modifications, the team expects to win the championship in the 2023 season and is keen to bring luck to the Orange Army bring.
5. Delhi Capitals – 3.5 million followers
The Delhi Capitals team has made the playoffs six times during their 15-year journey. They were also runners-up for the 2020 season. The team is led by Captain David Warner and coached by Ricky Pointing. The team was originally known as the Delhi Daredevils but was renamed the Delhi Capitals in 2018. The team has many key players like Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey and Axar Patel. This team has yet to claim a win in the 2023 season. Let’s hope they finish strong.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders – 3.8 million followers
Known as the Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL franchise owned by Indian celebrities Badsha Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla (along with her husband) has garnered significant popularity due to their impressive performances on the field. The team that wears purple has made the playoffs seven times and been crowned champions twice (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 trained by Chandrakant Pandit. The team includes Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. This year they have sacked several players and recruited a few new ones in hopes of lifting the trophy. Their goal is to make the playoffs and emerge as champions.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore – 10.4 million followers
RCB is more than just a team, it’s an emotion for its fans who remain loyal regardless of the outcome of the games. Despite a track record of losing many games in the early stages of each season, the team makes the playoffs every time. They were runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 and made the playoffs a total of eight times. The team’s slogan “ee sala cup namde” was enthusiastically received by the fans. RCB is known for being the most entertaining team in the IPL with a record high score of 263 and low score of 49. Led by captain Faf du Plessis and coached by Sanjay Bangar, the team features key players such as Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. This year fans are hoping RCB will win the title and bring joy to their loyal followers.
2. Chennai Super Kings – 11.6 million followers
The Chennai Super Kings, with the highest winning percentage and most appearances in playoffs and finals, are steadily gaining popularity as the ‘yellow love’ grows by the day. The team has consistently excelled, making the playoffs in 11 of 13 seasons and reaching the finals nine times – the most of any team. They have lifted the trophy four times, in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021, and made a strong comeback after a two-year suspension. Led by Thala MS Dhoni and coached by Stephen Fleming, the team includes key players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja. We hope they 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 most wins of any team in the Indian Premier League. Aside from a single loss in the 2010 final, they have always emerged victorious from league games, winning in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. The management of this team is backed by the strong Reliance Industries and their popularity is a result of their impressive performance on the field. Led by captain Rohit Sharma and coached by Mark Boucher, the team features key players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Tim David. After not qualifying for the playoffs in the last two years, they are determined to win this season (2023) and cement their position as the most-titled team.
To sum up, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricket league but a phenomenon that has captured the hearts of fans around the world. The league’s teams have amassed a huge following on social media platforms such as Instagram, which underscores the enormous popularity of the sport. The teams’ off-field presence, including their social media names, plays a crucial role in their popularity. In this article, we looked at the teams with the most followers on Instagram. Each team has their unique journey and strengths, but all share a common goal of winning the IPL Cup. Regardless of the team, cricket fans look forward to every game, cheering for their favorite teams and hoping for success.
