The Indian Premier League is one of the richest and most famous sporting leagues; its value is largely attributed to the passionate fans who support it.
Fans play a vital role in shaping a team, league, or player into superstars, and this is certainly the case with IPL. The league’s entertaining brand of cricket, and the presence of cricketing superstars from around the world, helped it amass a massive fan base.
All the franchises in the IPL have massive fan bases around the world, which is largely dependent upon the team’s performance, player roster, and core beliefs of the team and there are the worst team in IPL history as well.
Factors including successful and consistent team performance and the presence of star players can attract and retain fans.
Today, in this article, we will explore the top franchises with massive fan bases and try to put some sense into what it is all about and why they command such a fan base.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Well, it is not that simple. There is a lot to consider when it comes to determining which team has the strongest fan base. Factors such as social media following, social media engagement, ground attendance, merchandising, and star power all need to be taken into account.
So, sit back and relax. We’ll do the work for you. Here is the list of five IPL teams with the highest fan following.
Just like their name suggests, Chennai Super Kings truly are the kings of the IPL and is the most dangerous team in IPL. It’s all thanks to a man named MS Dhoni, considered as the best captain in the world.
One of the biggest reasons for their high ranking in this list is their consistency. Since the inception of the IPL, their performance has never dipped, except for a year or two.
Under the able leadership of their “Thala” MS Dhoni, Chennai has managed to win four IPL trophies. There is no comparison to what Dhoni means to Chennai fans.
His mere presence fills up entire stadiums, even during practice sessions. That is the kind of stardom he enjoys down there. Apart from Dhoni, there are other stars on the team as well, including Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and more.
Also Read: List of Most Dangerous Bowlers in IPL History – Top 10
Second on the list is Mumbai Indians, a franchise owned by the richest man in India, Mukesh Ambani.
However, their massive fan base is not solely because of Ambani’s ownership. They owe much of their popularity to their star player, Rohit “Hitman” Sharma, who is somewhat of an icon for their fans and is looked up to by many.
Sharma is also one of the best captains in the IPL, as evidenced by their five trophies in the tournament.
Mumbai Indians fans turn up in large numbers wherever the team plays, whether it’s their home ground or away.
Mumbai also has the added advantage of having the biggest cricket icon from India, Sachin Tendulkar, associated with the team. Tendulkar played for Mumbai for many years and is now involved with the team as a support staff member.
Royal Challengers Bangalore comes in at number three on the list with a massive fan following, despite not having won the IPL yet. This is largely due to the association of Virat “King” Kohli who is one of the most dangerous batsman in IPL with the team since its inception.
Apart from Kohli, RCB has also had some of the most destructive batsmen in the world, including AB De Villiers (Mr. 360) and Chris Gayle (Universe Boss).
Although both of these batsmen have retired from all forms of the game recently, they are still a big part of the RCB fabric. Kohli, along with other star players like Faf Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Dinesh Kartik, is taking the team forward.
RCB fans, or the Red Army as they like to call themselves, travel with the team wherever they play, showing their undying support for their team.
Coming in at number four on the list is Kolkata Knight Riders, a team with a strong fan base thanks to its owners, Shah Rukh Khan (King Khan) and Juhi Chawla (Bollywood Actress).
While they may not have a star player like the other three teams we’ve discussed above, KKR’s consistent performances over the years have helped to bolster their fan base. They have won two trophies so far, one in 2012 and another in 2014, with Gautam Gambhir as captain, who was a big part of the team’s core belief.
Coupled with the star power of their owners and other factors, KKR enjoys a large fan base that continues to support the team through thick and thin.
Sunrisers Hyderabad was founded in 2012 and won its first title in 2016, which helped its brand presence in Andhra. David Warner was one of the key factors behind Hyderabad’s success, playing some spectacular seasons for the team and leading them to victory in the 2016 IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad fans, known as the Orange Army, are known for their loyalty and passion for the team and continue to support them wholeheartedly. The team’s success has also led to support from fans around the world.
Despite not having the same level of star power as some of the other teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad has managed to build a strong fan base through their consistent performances on the field and the unwavering support of their fans.
Also Read: Shubman Gill IPL Stats
| Team | YouTube | ||
| CSK | 9.5M | 11.7M | 2.83M |
| MI | 8.1M | 11.8M | 3.01M |
| RCB | 6.6M | 10.6M | 3.59M |
| KKR | 5.2M | 3.8M | 1.26M |
| SRH | 3.1M | 3.1M | 781K |
| DC | 2.5M | 3.5M | 799K |
| RR | 2.6M | 3.1M | 700K |
| PBKS | 2.9M | 2.9M | 472K |
| GT | 451K | 2.3M | 301K |
| LSG | 822K | 2.1M | 70K |
Note: This table contains followers’ numbers as of the time of writing. These may change in the future, and we may or may not update them. If we do update them, we will make sure to mention it.
Star power plays quite a significant role in determining the fan base a team boasts. And that is why, the top three teams, who have the best following in the IPL, have an Indian star player that enjoys success in all forms of the game.
Other than star power, a team’s performances also play a role in building a sense of community and trust with its fans. This can translate into unwavering support from them.
To conclude, Indian Premier League is a cricketing sensation with a massive fan following around the world. And the popularity it enjoys is largely attributed to the loyal, honest, and passionate fans that support it.
So, this is it, then; we’ve offered a list of IPL franchises based on the massive fan bases they enjoy. However, it is difficult to say all time which team has more fans in IPL. But the certainty is that the top three teams on the list (Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore) have consistently had the largest and most passionate fan bases in IPL history.
This league and its respective franchises will continue to strive to attract more fans and bless them with an exciting, entertaining, and thrilling brand of cricket to keep them engaged.
So, what do you think about this, do tell us in the comments.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this.
