"Ab Jethalal bhi aa jayega" - Fans react as IPL 2025's viral robo-dog is named 'Champak'

IPL 2025 robo-dog got its name based on fan votes. (Pics: X/@IPL/@mahi_tst/@PantKohliBhogle).

Fans online flooded social media with memes after learning that the viral robot dog, the newest addition to the IPL 2025 broadcasting team, finally has a name. The official X handle of the league announced on Sunday, April 20, that the robo-dog has been named 'Champak' based on fan votes.

'Champak' is also the name of a central character of the popular Indian television sitcom 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.' 'Champak' received the highest number of votes from the fans. The other options on the list were 'Chulbul', 'Jaffa,' and 'Buddy.'

The announcement of the name drew hilarious reactions on social media. Here are some of the top reactions on X:

The robot dog innovation has generated a lot of buzz ever since its introduction. The four-legged tech has an in-built camera that provides the fans with a unique viewing experience.

It was unveiled by cricketer-turned-commentator Danny Morrison at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, ahead of the IPL 2025 match between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 13.

MS Dhoni played with robo-dog 'Champak' and carried it to the dressing room during IPL 2025

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni was seen playing with the IPL 2025 robo-dog following the side's five-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on April 14.

Dhoni carried the robo-dog while walking back towards the dugout. Here's a video of the incident (via North East West South's X handle):

Dhoni shone with the bat in the game against LSG, playing an impactful cameo. The veteran keeper-batter remained unbeaten on 26 off just 11 deliveries and was adjudged the 'Player of the Match,' as Chennai chased the 167-run target in 19.3 overs.

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Aditya writes news, features, listicles, and exclusive pieces at Sportskeeda as a cricket journalist. After completing his MBA in Sports Management from Symbiosis, he started his professional journey and has a total work experience of 4 years, which included a stint at Republic World. Impressively, he has also done exclusive on-site coverage of two T20 World Cups (2021, 2022), the 2023 ODI World Cup, and 5 editions of IPL, and boasts a total readership of close to 12 million at Sportskeeda. He has also played cricket professionally at the AIU Zonal level for Ahmedabad district.

Aditya admires Virat Kohli’s exemplary discipline, dedication, and hard work. Kohli’s ‘Shot of the Century’ against Haris Rauf is a moment that left a lasting impact on him, ultimately teaching him a valuable life lesson that self-belief will always bear fruit. His favorite teams are the Indian Cricket Team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Aditya believes in sourcing information only from trusted sources rather than any random social media posts on the story and being neutral and honest are his reporting strengths. When not writing, he enjoys playing snooker and pickleball with his friends, and he is also a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado.

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