In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, fans are showing more love for individual players rather than supporting teams.
Study Shows Players Are Bigger Than Teams
According to a study by CrispInsights and Cadence International called ‘Edart IPL 2025’, 98% of fans have a favorite player, but only 37% support a particular team. This shows fans are more connected to players than to teams.
Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni Stay the Top Favorites
The study highlights that star players like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are still the most loved by fans. Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant are also becoming very popular. Meanwhile, new teams are struggling to win strong fan loyalty.
Emotional Connection With Players Is Growing
Analysts believe that fans now form deeper emotional bonds with players. Ritesh Ghoshal from CrispInsights explains, “The relationship with players is strong. This is why players are powerful for brand partnerships.”
Old Teams Like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai Stay Strong
Traditional teams such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai continue to have a strong hold over their local fans. In Bengaluru, 91% of fans named it their first or second favorite team.
Marketing Is Now Focused on Players
With fans more loyal to players than teams, marketing strategies are changing. Aman Makkar from Cadence International says, “Advertisements featuring players work better than team promotions. Fans emotionally connect more with players.”
IPL Superfans Are the Most Active Audience
The report also introduces the concept of ‘IPL Superfans’. They make up only 15% of the total audience but remember brands better and react more to advertisements.
Player Love Is Changing How IPL Works
As IPL continues to grow in popularity, the strong love for players is forcing brands and teams to create new ideas and strategies to stay connected with the fans.
