Ranking IPL teams on the basis of social media followers

IPL has become one of the most prominent leagues in the world. Every year players from around the world come to India to showcase their talent at this platform. These players, with their performances, create a faith in everyone that they are going to lead their team to the title. Cricket fans all over the world love and support them.

Along with fans, social media has also played an important role in making the tournament into what it is at this moment of time. All IPL teams use social network sites to connect with the fans. The BCCI have also used the platform in a good manner, hosting Twitter battles and updating the official IPL handle with match videos regularly.

Also, the fan connect of all the eight teams is immense and will once again fight it out in the upcoming season.

Below are the most followed IPL teams on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

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8. Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals are making their comeback in IPL after two years. They were suspended along with CSK due to their involvement in spot-fixing and betting.

Royals won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 under Shane Warne, defeating Chennai Super Kings. Apart from winning the inaugural edition of IPL, Royals also reached the final of Champions League T20 in 2013, losing out to Mumbai Indians in the end.

Some great players like Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, Steve Smith have played for them in previous editions of IPL.

They have around 4 million likes on their Facebook pages along with 1m on Twitter. With their captain Steve Smith banned from playing IPL this year, the onus would be on Ajinkya Rahane to help the side win their second IPL title.

Facebook: 3.7m

Instagram: 0.21m

Twitter: 0.98m

Total: 4.89m

7. Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils

Over the past 10 years, Delhi have failed to win the title and they have let go of their key players who could single-handedly turn the matches to a win. Players like Gautam Gambhir, AB de Villiers and Daniel Vettori have gone to other teams and have proved how much of a threat they can be to their opposition.

Delhi Daredevils have about 1 million followers on Twitter and 4.4m plus likes on their Facebook page as of now. Their fan following is comparatively less than other teams, because of above-mentioned reasons.

With their former skipper Gautam Gambhir returning back, DD would hope to win their 1st IPL this time.

Facebook: 4.4m

Instagram: 0.34m

Twitter: 1.18m

Total: 5.92m

6. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Orange Army

Sunrisers Hyderabad have always been the underdogs ever since they’ve made an entry into this lucrative league. They’ve never had a star player up their sleeves but stunningly won the 2016 edition under the leadership of David Warner.

There bowling line up has been one of the best in recent years boosting of players like Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar among many others.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s huge fan base is reflected on social media platforms. With over 5 million likes on Facebook, the team is always creating buzz on the social media.

With David Warner being banned from playing IPL this year, SRH have appointed Kane Williamson as there new captain

Facebook: 5.7m

Instagram: 0.42m

Twitter: 1.84m

Total: 7.96m

5. Kings XI Punjab

Kings X1 Punjab

KXIP have reached the final just once in 10 seasons of IPL, but the presence of Bollywood actress Preity Zinta and Virender Sehwag is the reason that they enjoy a huge fan following on social media sites.

Also dynamic players like Glenn Maxwell, David Miller have helped KXIP gain an immense fan following with there dynamic style of play. This year they are one of few teams which have excelled in auctions as they bought some great players.

With a new team, KXIP would love to win the IPL for the first time in franchise's history.

Facebook: 8.4m

Instagram: 0.54m

Twitter: 1.75m

Total: 10.69m

4. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore

One of the most decorated teams in the league, the RCB has been one of the most followed team by the fans all over the world. The team has had many high profile players like Anil Kumble, Shane Watson, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and Daniel Vettori over the years.

Though they have never won the IPL, they have reached the finals three times. Having Indian Captain Virat Kohli in their ranks, they have gained an immense fan following in the past few seasons.

Also, Kohli is the most followed cricketer on Twitter and Instagram. Captaining RCB this year, he would love to win his first IPL title.

Facebook: 9.2m

Instagram: 1.5m

Twitter: 3.02m

Total: 13.72m

3. Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings are undoubtedly one of the most talked about teams in the history of the IPL. With Indian players like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja playing for them, CSK are not only popular in Chennai, but enjoy a huge fan following all over India as well.

Their skipper MS Dhoni is set to lead them after a gap of two years as they were suspended along with Royals for spot-fixing and betting case.

They are also the only team to win the IPL in two consecutive seasons (2010, 2011). They have also won the Champions League twice (2010, 2014). The franchise, formerly owned by India Cements, haven’t lifted the IPL trophy since 2011 and will be hoping to break that drought this season.

They will take on Mumbai Indians in the opening match of this year's IPL.

Facebook: 11.9m

Instagram: 0.54m

Twitter: 4.03m

Total: 16.47m

2. Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most expensive franchise in the IPL, with Reliance's Mukesh Ambani buying the team for $111.9m. Their popularity is mainly due to Sachin Tendulkar and veteran players like Sanath Jayasuriya, Ricky Ponting, Shaun Pollock and Rohit Sharma have all been an integral part of the MI family.

If one goes for individual performances, MI players are found to be on a roll everywhere. The current skipper, Rohit Sharma is ranked third in terms of most runs, most sixes and most catches as a fielder in the ten seasons of IPL.

Until 2011, MI didn't have a major effect in IPL. But having won 3 of the last 5 IPL titles, MI are one of the successful teams in the history of IPL.

Facebook: 12.7m

Instagram: 1.5m

Twitter: 4.73m

Total: 18.93m

1. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders decided to let go of their star player and the skipper Gautam Gambhir and have surely attracted criticism from all corners of the cricketing fraternity. But still, the presence of one of the most followed celebrities, Shah Rukh Khan has helped KKR to claim the top spot.

History of KKR can be divided majorly into two eras- the pre-2011 and the post-2011 with KKR achieving success in the latter half when Gambhir marshalled the side to two IPL titles.

Kolkata Knight Riders will play their opening match on 8th April against Royal Challengers Bangalore under the able leadership of Dinesh Karthik.

Facebook: 16.2m

Instagram: 0.51mb

Twitter: 3.78m

Total: 20.49m