The Indian Premier League is the world’s largest and most popular cricket league. Currently, there are 10 franchise teams competing in the tournament. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has built a massive global fan base. It ranks second only to the NFL in terms of broadcasting deals and has a brand value of USD 10.7 billion. Fans of IPL teams come from all corners of the world. Many franchises now also have teams in other T20 leagues, expanding IPL’s influence. However, the question remains: which IPL team is the most popular?
Let’s take a look at the teams with the most fans since the IPL began in 2008.
Most Popular Teams in IPL History (Based on Social Media Following)
| Team | Titles | Facebook (M) | X (M) | Instagram (M) | YouTube (M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 14 | 8.2 | 13.2 | 4.24 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 13 | 10.1 | 13 | 3.16 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 0 | 10 | 6.9 | 11.6 | 3.78 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 17 | 5.2 | 4 | 1.5 |
| Punjab Kings | 0 | 8.8 | 3 | 3 | 0.48 |
| Delhi Capitals | 0 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 0.87 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 6.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 0.80 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.81 |
| Gujarat Titans | 1 | 1.2 | 0.55 | 3.5 | 0.52 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 0 | 0.77 | 0.77 | 2.9 | 0.11 |
Mumbai Indians: The Most Famous IPL Team
Mumbai Indians is the most followed and successful team in IPL history. Owned by Reliance Industries, the team had cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its captain in the early years. The team’s immense popularity has helped it gain around 40 million followers on social media.
Until 2023, Mumbai Indians were led by Rohit Sharma, winning five IPL trophies, tying with Chennai Super Kings as the most successful team. Hardik Pandya is now set to captain the team for the 2024 IPL season.
Mumbai Indians’ brand value was USD 87 million in 2023, making it the most valuable IPL franchise. Over the years, the team has nurtured young talents like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav, while featuring stars like Ricky Ponting, Lasith Malinga, and Dwayne Bravo.
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Chennai Super Kings: The Most Loved IPL Team
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has also won five IPL titles, all under the leadership of India’s former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. CSK has a massive fan base of nearly 40 million on social media, with the highest number of followers on X among all IPL teams. The passionate support of CSK fans makes them one of the most beloved teams in the league.
CSK has reached the playoffs in 12 out of the 14 seasons they have played, and Dhoni is affectionately known as “Thala” (meaning “leader” in Tamil) by the Chennai crowd. Dhoni led India to its first T20 World Cup win in 2007 and has captained CSK since the inaugural IPL season, continuing to play even after retiring from international cricket in 2019.
In 2023, CSK’s brand value was USD 80.6 million, making it the second most valuable IPL franchise.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Popular Without a Trophy
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), based in Bangalore, has been part of the IPL since 2008. Although RCB has never won the IPL, they are incredibly popular, mainly because of Virat Kohli, one of the greatest cricketers of the modern era and one of the most-followed athletes on social media.
Faf du Plessis captained the team in 2023, taking over from Kohli. The team has featured many cricketing stars such as AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Shane Watson. Bollywood celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif have also been brand ambassadors for the team, adding to their popularity.
RCB’s brand value in 2023 was USD 69.8 million, making it the third most valuable team.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Star-Powered Popularity
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), co-owned by Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, has enjoyed immense popularity since the first IPL season. With their home ground at Eden Gardens, the team is deeply connected to Kolkata’s love for cricket. Their theme song, “Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo,” remains iconic to this day.
The team won two IPL titles and is part of a larger brand that also owns teams in other T20 leagues, such as the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. KKR’s brand value was USD 78.6 million in 2023.
Punjab Kings: A Fan-Favorite Despite No Trophies
Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) is a well-known IPL team even though they have never won the title. The team is co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta and has a loyal fan base.
Note: The Delhi Capitals and other teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants also have passionate fans, but they rank lower in terms of brand value and social media following.
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