Which is the Most Fan Following Team in IPL (2025)? – Who has a more loyal fan base?

How We Evaluate IPL Fan Bases? More Than Just Numbers of Followers

Evaluating IPL Fan bases is more than just social media numbers. It is the fans, their loyalty, and love for cricketers around the world. To evaluate the fan base of an Indian Premier League team, we have some simple criteria: 

Beyond Social Media 

Regardless of the social media followers, RCB tends to have the largest fan base in the country. A huge number of followers can be one of the elements that show that the brand or team is highly popular among people, but a really strong fan club is full of active and engaging members. Fans' engagement, the fan-made materials, and the way people talk about the team online. These are just some of the reasons why teams with good fans see even off-season regular engagement. Just like we see RCBians, the fans stand by the team even when it is controversial or loses.

Power of the Crowd

The number of followers does not resonate with the number of people cheering for you on the ground. Having seen fans dedicatedly wearing the team merch, buying it at any rate just to show their enthusiasm, shows the power of the crowd. This power, the noise in the stadium, is not just for the media but also offers great power to the players. The thrilling atmosphere produced at the home grounds is a palpable manifestation of the popularity of a team and its emotional relationship with the fans.

Deep-Rooted Loyalty

Nothing compares to the RCB fans when we talk about Loyalty. Fighting, supporting, and loving one team for 18 years without winning a single season, RCB created an amazing fan base. The fans are loyal and true to the team despite their losses, controversies, and backlashes. Not just the teams, but the lasting legacy of players like MS Dhoni for CSK, Virat Kohli for RCB, and Rohit Sharma for MI has resulted in a resilient, inseparable link with fans. This is above the players' performance in the match. The devotion of the fans is assured by this kind of emotional bond during both the seasons of win and defeat.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

10. Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Supergiants have not had the same success Gujarat Titans have had in the last three years, but are not doing too badly for themselves. They have a fan base of 5.7 million across various digital platforms. The LSG team achieved great success early on, making it to the playoffs in their first two seasons. They have a team that might not have very big names, but they can be great in the future. Nicholas Pooran, KL Rahul, and Marcus Stoinis are possibly their biggest players. In the 2024 season, they unearthed Mayank Yadav, who was a sensation in the limited matches he played. Their fan following took a hit after the infamous loss against SRH in IPL 2024, where owner Sanjiv Goenka was involved in a heated exchange with skipper KL Rahul.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

9. Gujarat Titans

In spite of being only a three-season-old team, the Gujarat Titans have found the love of the fans on social media. They have a fan base of 8.5 M followers across digital platforms. Their success in raking up the numbers can be attributed to multiple things. They have had possibly the best start to their IPL journey by winning the title in the first season and finishing as the runner-up in the second season. They play in the biggest cricket stadium in the world, which means that there are a lot more fans in the stadium for their home games. GT also has an exciting coaching setup with Ashish Nehra, who is one of the most loved former players in the country. The 2022 champions are banking on the young talent of Shubman Gill, who can be the potential star in the making at the franchise.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

8. Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals rank last among the teams that have been part of the IPL for more than 10 years. The Royals started their journey in the tournament strongly after becoming the champions in the inaugural season in 2008. Since then, RR has been trying to chase that elusive second title. They have a fan following of 15.6 M across social media platforms. The RR social media team is possibly the best in the business among the other IPL teams.

They have witty tweets on X and have players like Yuzvendra Chahal, who himself has a good social media presence. RR has had great players like Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and others. These players have brought some success on the field to the franchise, but haven’t been the star attraction like other teams have. Maybe if the IPL had started a little bit earlier and Warne had played for a longer period of time, then RR could have been much more successful when it comes to the social media numbers.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

7. Sunrisers Hyderabad

With the hard-hitting brand of cricket Sunrisers Hyderabad played in IPL 2024, their standing on this table comes as a surprise. They were a late entrant to the IPL in 2013 but still have a social media following of 16.73 M. For the longest time, SRH had David Warner, who was the most loved overseas player in India. Warner has been arguably the best player for SRH, but has also been a great social media star. The Australian opener often creates TikTok and Instagram reels featuring his family dancing to popular songs, mostly from the South Indian film industry. He has also been featured in advertisements in India.

On the field, SRH won an IPL title once in 2016 under the leadership of Warner. They now also hold the record for scoring the highest team total in IPL. If they continue playing in the same style as they did in 2024, they can surely overtake a few franchises on this list of the most fan following team in IPL.

Source: Official Social Media Handles 

6. Punjab Kings

The Punjab Kings have the worst track record of making it into the IPL playoffs when it comes to teams that have been playing since 2008. The franchise has a fan base of 17.64 M across all platforms and is a team owned by one of the most famous actresses of her generation, Preity Zinta. Zinta is often seen supporting her team in IPL and has appeared multiple times on the social media platforms of the team as well.

In spite of changing their name from Kings XI Punjab to Punjab Kings, the fortunes of the team have remained the same. PBKS has featured some of the best international players, including Adam Gilchrist, Yuvraj Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Virender Sehwag, and others. These players might not have succeeded in winning a title with the franchise, but have been able to garner a massive fan following for the team. 

Source: Official Social Media Handles

5. Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals have been one of the poorest sides in the IPL. The country’s capital has very little success on the field. They do have a social media following of 18.29 M, but have been a disappointing team for their fans. They bank on their large fan base in the city. In the last few seasons, DC has also collaborated with social media influencers in an attempt to improve its standing on this table. Rishabh Pant’s journey from a young teenager to a skipper now, after that horrific car accident, has made many people follow the team’s journey. Over the years, the franchise has had some of the most famous players, including Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, David Warner, and more.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

4. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders was unarguably the biggest mashup of cricket and Bollywood when IPL started. The team is co-owned by India’s biggest actor, Shah Rukh Khan. SRK alone has been able to garner a great amount of admiration and fan following for the franchise. The KKR added more fans to their name with a third title in 2024. KKR has a social media following of 32.91 M and has the most fan following team in IPL on Facebook. While off the field, Bollywood has taken the front seat; on the field, some of the greatest leaders have captained the side. Sourav Ganguly led the side in the early seasons. The former Indian skipper is a local hero in West Bengal and is one of the most famous people from the state. 

Gautam Gambhir has been the most successful player as well as the skipper for the franchise. Under Gambhir’s leadership, KKR tasted its first success. When he was the skipper, KKR won the title twice, and when he returned to the franchise as a mentor before IPL 2024, KKR won their third title. On the field, the face of the franchise has been the two giants of IPL, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. The two match-winners have five MVP awards between them. The all-rounders might not generate the same social media numbers as others, but the entertainment they provide has made KKR a great team to watch. 

Source: Official Social Media Handles

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Virat Kohli, with his immense popularity on the field and off the field, makes Royal Challengers Bengaluru a team with a fan following of 45.4 M on social media platforms. The former Indian skipper is the most followed Indian on Instagram and boasts a massive following of 273 M followers on the platform alone. Virat has been a record-making machine in the IPL. He holds the record for scoring the most centuries in IPL, and he also has the most runs in the IPL. The former skipper also holds the record for scoring the most runs in an IPL season. 

In spite of not winning their first IPL title in 2025, RCB has the highest fan base in IPL compared to KKR, SRH, RR, and GT, who have all won IPL titles at least once before them. Along with Kohli, RCB has had overseas stars like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. These cricketers are two of the most loved in India. Gayle has been a giant in T20 cricket and has found success all over the world. De Villiers, on the other hand, has been applauded even when he is playing against India. 

Source: Official Social Media Handles

2. Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have had a tough competition, be it on the field or on social media. CSK has the second-most fans across all social media platforms. They have an overall following of 48.27 M across the three major social media platforms. The five-time champions have the most amount of followers on Instagram and Twitter. In spite of being banned for two years, CSK has been able to gain followers across social media platforms year after year. In the last two years, CSK has taken a sort of yellow army to every stadium they have visited. 

Be it at Wankhede, the home to arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, or RCB’s home at Chinnaswamy, CSK has been followed like a cult. When India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the IPL followed in 2008. The Indian skipper was from Jharkhand, but there wasn’t any team from the state in the T20 league. Dhoni joined CSK, and the rest, as they say, is history. He has been the star attraction for CSK since 2008 and might continue to do so long after he has retired.

Source: Official Social Media Handles

1. Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai Indians is the most fan following team in IPL, with the most fans across social media platforms. The five-time champions have an overall following of 48.82 M across social media. MI has the highest fan following IPL team on YouTube. While Dhoni has been arguably the sole attraction for CSK, MI has had two people who have pushed people to follow their journey on social media. When the IPL began, the Mumbai Indians team was bought by the richest family in India. But it was the face of the country or even the face of the sport that created a huge fan base for MI. It was none other than Sachin Tendulkar, famously known as the ‘God of Cricket’. 

There was never any doubt that Sachin would be playing for any team except for Mumbai. His unbreakable records and legacy in the sport were enough for many people to become fans of this team when it had no success. 

Rohit Sharma joined the Mumbai Indians in 2011 after having won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the IPL with Deccan Chargers in 2009 as a player. He did not have the stature the Indian he has today, nor was he as great a batter as he is today when he joined them. However, it was under Rohit’s captaincy that MI won all five of its titles. As he garnered popularity thanks to his exploits in International cricket, MI is at the top of the IPL most fan following team. Interestingly, Rohit was removed from the captaincy of MI when the five-time champions brought Hardik Pandya in a major trade deal in late 2023. The removal of Rohit as the skipper resulted in a dip in followers on social media, but the T20 World Cup in 2024 surely made up for it. 

Source: Official Social Media Handles

Why IPL Fan Following Matters More Than Just Trophies?

IPL fan following is not limited to the trophies. Also, trophies do not measure the fan following. These are two separate aspects of the Indian Premier League. The fan following is rather more important than the trophies when it comes to brands, businesses, and monetisation. 

The greater the Fan Following, the greater the audience and the larger the Exposure for Businesses. 

Better Revenue

To support the team that has the trust of its huge and loyal followers, brands are ready to spend above the normal price. Thus, the sponsorships are often offered in premium form. The fans, in essence, are the customers of the team merchandise, like t-shirts, hats, jerseys, and more. Therefore, that very same and dominant fan community is the cause of permanently higher team revenues, which can be dreamy even in off-months without coming events.

Last but not least, the rich fan base ensures that the stadium is filled, especially when the team plays at home. Such a situation means that not only do they get direct income from ticket sales, but also the arena acquires the so-called electric atmosphere, which makes it attractive for broadcasters and sponsors.

Protection Even during Failures

Ups and downs in every sports team are inevitable. A considerable fan base is a protective shield during the off-season period. When a team faces a problem, its supportive fans come forward. They often stand together, forming a careful atmosphere of supporters that helps the team continue to be relevant and commercially viable. 

This allegiance is an invaluable asset that a business franchise has, which offers the firm strength and persistence. It enables them to pass through an adjustment period, replace the team, and keep the brand's reputation without a drastic loss in revenue or public interest.

Why are CSK, RCB & MI Always on Top?

Sit in any IPL discussion, or ask people around you about their favourite IPL team, and the most common answers will be CSK, RCB, and MI, but why? Apart from their social media followings, these teams have been the most loved IPL teams in every season. Despite several controversies, theories, and failures, these teams are the core of the IPL. The top reason has to be the team members: 

CSK and MS Dhoni 

The calm leadership, on-field presence, and, of course, “Thala”, the cult fan base for MS Dhoni, take over the people of Tamil Nadu. With consistently better performance, reaching playoffs, and winning 5 IPL titles, it creates an emotional bond between the team and the yellow army.

RCB and Virat Kohli 

The passionate and aggressive style of Kohli resonates with the past members like AB de Villiers, driving a connection with the generations. Virat’s commitment to the franchise and the slogan ”Ee Sala Cup Namde” (this year, the cup is ours) pushes a connection amongst the audience and the team, strengthening the loyalty to the team despite hard times. 

MI and Rohit Sharma

The foundation that Rohit Sharma created by winning 5 titles under his captaincy, built a dynasty for the team. The successful captaincy attracts audiences along with players such as Jasprit Bumrah, and the strong bond with the city of Mumbai, a significant center for cricket and Bollywood, contributes to its charming image.

In conclusion, all these teams are loved by their regional fan bases, making it more exciting for a fan clash. With MI and CSK having 5 IPL titles each, RCB stands strong with one winning title in the IPL 2025. Before that, RCB still had one of the greatest fan bases without even winning a single title. This shows the love people hold for the team and its players, which answers our next question!

Who Will Have the Most Fans by IPL 2026?

No matter that the Mumbai Indians have the highest number of followers, Royal Challengers Bangalore have the biggest fan base. With winning the IPL 2025, the 18th season, RCB marked history and created a space in everyone’s hearts. From reaching the playoffs, having the best players around the world, RCB has always given its 100% to win the title. After reaching the playoffs 10 times out of 18 seasons, and failing consistently, the last win was a markdown and a long-awaited win for the team and the Fan base. This will be the top reason for RCB being the fan favorite. Along with Virat’s retirement from ODIs and T20Is, the audience wants to see King Kohli on their screen as much as Possible. 

Conclusion

RCB is one of the most fan following team in IPL, regardless of social media followers. The numbers do identify the Mumbai Indians as the most followed IPL team; however, the active fan base, the meme world, is die-hard focused on RCB. 

From the 10 IPL teams, MI, CSK, and RCB are the top three teams based on their fan following and social media numbers. These teams are loved due to their team structure, which includes the top Indian and international players. Lastly, the overall active fan base results in better revenue, loyalty, and brand recognition for the businesses.