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All IPL teams seem to enjoy huge support from their fanbase. Grounds are consistently full, but which of those franchises have the most fans?
Which IPL Team has the Most Fans?
Using statistics from social media platforms, Chennai Super Kings have the most fans. Across the three main platforms, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, CSK have 41.5 million followers as of 2022.
That list includes 10.4 million followers on Instagram, 12.5 million on Facebook and 8.6 million on Twitter.
Top 5 Most Popular Teams on Social Media Platforms
Chennai Super Kings
Those figures provided by the Chennai Super Kings are truly astonishing. It’s said that there are around 120 million cricket fans in India and, based on those statistics, it suggests that around a third of them are CSK followers.
Of course, some fans will follow multiple teams on social media, while the numbers will be boosted by cricket lovers outside of India, but those are remarkable stats nevertheless.
Chennai’s numbers have been enhanced by the fact that they have fielded some of the biggest names in the Indian cricket sphere. For many years they were led by MS Dhoni while recent squads have also contained great players such as Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians are a close second place to Chennai in the list of most supported Indian Premier League teams. More than 40 million fans follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
It helps to keep those fans engaged and Mumbai’s social media accounts are among the busiest around. It also helps that this is the most successful team in IPL history. Across the first 15 editions, Mumbai Indians won the title in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders have also won multiple Indian Premier League titles with success coming in 2012 and 2014. Those wins have helped to boost their following and, as of 2022, KKR have 24.3 million fans across social media.
By far the highest proportion of those figures comes via Facebook where there are 16.1 million followers at present.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
They are widely known as the best team to have never won the IPL. With so much talent in their team, it’s incredible to think that Royal Challengers Bangalore didn’t win any of the first 15 editions of the IPL.
Hopefully for RCB fans the team will lose their unwanted nickname in the future, but that lack of success hasn’t affected their total support. Across those three main social media platforms, Royal Challengers currently have over 23 million followers.
Many of those fans will follow RCB because of the great Virat Kohli so, if the team wants to maintain those numbers, they must look to keep him in the squad.
Punjab Kings
The fifth name on this list may be the most surprising. Punjab Kings, previously known as Kings XI Punjab, have traditionally been one of the least successful franchise teams in the Indian Premier League.
Aside from an appearance in the 2014 final, they have been very quiet, but that hasn’t had an effect on their loyal support. Perhaps, the presence of owner Preity Zinta, one of the most popular Bollywood actresses, has helped.
Whatever the reasons may be, Punjab Kings can boast just under 14 million followers across those three main social media platforms.
Conclusion
Success will help to develop a big fan base, so it’s no surprise that Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are at the top. They are the two teams with the most IPL trophies, and a lot of supporters, particularly those outside of India, will choose to follow them because of this.
Obviously that hasn’t been the case with Punjab Kings. Maybe their big following is due to the fact that everyone loves an underdog.
One interesting point to watch in the future concerns the two new Indian Premier League franchises. Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants joined the competition in 2022 as the IPL expanded to ten teams.
Will the new boys have enough support to break into this list in the near future or will the established IPL sides continue to lead the way?
