The Indian Premier League (IPL) has established itself as one of the most prominent leagues in world sports. Fans from across India and around the world watch, tune in every season to cheer for their beloved franchises! One such query that never goes out of relevance is which team has the most fans in IPL?
In addition to that, people often look for most fan following IPL team, updated list of IPL fans count and clean IPL team fan following list. This article addresses all of those questions by using up-to-date data for 2026.
In a new study of Indian Premier League followers conducted in March, we sort the best IPL teams by fan base size – and take a look at which teams’ supporters are the most loyal, plus how IPL fan culture has transformed over recent years – both online and off.
Most Fan Following IPL Team All Time 2026
| Rank | Team | Social Followers (Approx.) | Loyalty Score (/10) | Key Reasons |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | ~35.5 million | 10 | Virat Kohli, unmatched passion |
| 2 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | ~43.5 million | 9.5 | MS Dhoni, consistency, Yellow Army |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | ~40.1 million | 8.5 | Multiple titles, strong legacy |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | ~30.7 million | 7.5 | Bollywood influence, titles |
| 5 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | ~7.1 million | 7 | Fastest fan growth |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | ~16.2 million | 6.8 | Young fan base, Gen Z appeal |
| 7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | ~15.4 million | 6.7 | Strong regional loyalty |
| 8 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | ~16.1 million | 6.5 | Regional support, engagement |
| 9 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | ~13.2 million | 6 | 2008 legacy, core supporters |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | ~5.5 million | 6.2 | New franchise, modern branding |
How IPL Fan Bases Are Ranked (Not Just Followers)
A team’s popularity cannot be fully determined by social media numbers. Real strong fan base shows up everywhere, not just on the computer.
Here’s how we weight different factors to rank IPL teams fairly:
- Social media reach on outlets such as Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube
- Match-day and TV audiences, a litmus test of popular support
- Merchandise sales, and fan clubs, demonstrating a more emotional investment in the music industry.
- Out of season engagement (including posts, reels and community activities)
This twofold approach adds up not simply the number of fans for teams, but how passionate and loyal they are.
What Does Fan Loyalty Mean in the IPL?
In the IPL, loyalty is much more than just winning trophies. They say real fans support their team when it’s losing, embroiled in scandal, or rebuilding.
Fan loyalty includes:
- Supporting the team even when it gets bad
- Sentimentality for players or section sentiment
- Keeping busy off-season on the fan pages, discussions and events
Loyalty, or lack thereof, is key because it’s one of the factors that help differentiate teams with temporary hype from those with lasting fan support.
1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – The Ultimate Fan Favorite
Chennai is not merely an IPL team but melkeruthe, – a symbol for consistency and trust. CSK’s fans are known as one of the most loyal fan bases in world cricket.
- Followers: ~43.5 million
- Loyalty Score: 9.5 / 10
Why CSK Fans Are So Strong
- MS Dhoni’s legendary leadership
- Several IPL titles and consistency
- The famous “Whistle Podu” culture and the Yellow Army
And even during those two years on the sidelines, CSK fans stayed rock solid — a boast that very few franchises can make about their base.
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – The Loyalty Champions
Royal Challengers Bangalore have the most ardent fans in the IPL. Well, RCB is yet to win the cup but their popularity is ever increasing.
- Followers: ~35.5 million
- Loyalty Score: 10 / 10
What Drives RCB’s Fan Power
- Virat Kohli’s global appeal
- The sentimental “Ee Sala Cup Namde” campaign
- Extremely active fan clubs across India
RCB demonstrates that trophies aren’t the only path to enormous fan devotion.
3. Mumbai Indians (MI) – Built on Success
Mumbai Indians are as close as the IPL has to a dynasty with several titles and star players.
- Followers: ~40.1 million
- Loyalty Score: 8.5 / 10
MI’s fan base is fueled by:
- Five IPL titles
- Rohit Sharma’s leadership
- Strong brand value and ownership
Their fans include a mix of performance chasers and long-term believers.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Glamour Meets Cricket
KKR’s popularity is massive, not just for their cricketing success but also because of the Bollywood connection.
- Followers: ~30.7 million
- Loyalty Score: 7.5 / 10
Key strengths include:
- Shah Rukh Khan’s global influence
- Two IPL championships
- Huge regional and Facebook following
5-8. Mid-Tier Teams With Strong Core Fans
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Popular among a younger audience, DC are heavily into digital and new brand identity. Gen Z fans gravitate toward rising stars and reel-friendly content.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
PBKS are backed passionately by home crowd especially in North India. Celebrity ownership and interfacing with fans help keep them going.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
With its ‘Orange Army’, the popular South Indian franchise have always enjoyed a loyal fanfare where value for team culture is much appreciated.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
RR are IPL’s initial champion and they have the most passionate fans when it comes to strategy, nurturing talent and inheritance.
9. Gujarat Titans (GT) – The Fastest-Growing Fan Base
Gujarat Titans have added to their ever-growing fan base in no time after they won the IPL on debut.
- Followers: ~7.1 million
- Growth Driver: 2022 title win, Shubman Gill’s emergence
Their attacking style of play and large home crowds are still winning them new fans.
10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – The New-Age Franchise
There are few to no Lucknow Super Giants but they are generating strong digital content.
- Followers: ~5.5 million
- Strengths: Modern marketing, competitive squad
Their following will only increase in the coming years.
Which IPL Team Has the Most Loyal Fans?
- RCB top in emotional loyalty with no titles.
- CSK combines unparalleled consistency and trust
- MI combine success with long-term fan engagement
Even some of the teams like KKR and SRH don’t have a thing called as fucked up seasons with fans coming in droves next year only.
Why IPL Fans Stay Loyal
It’s not hard to guess what keeps fans so closely attached:
- Regional pride and city identity
- Evergreen stars who motivate long-term loyalty
- Celebrity owners and branding
- Fan hashtags, memes and chants.
IPL Fan Base Trends (2008–2026)
- 2008–11: CSK and MI among early popularity
- 2013-18: Stars shine, titles galore for RCB and KKR
- 2019-24: Social media offers fans an explosion of engagement
- 2025: Loyalty and community-building matter more than ever
Conclusion
The Indian Premier League is more than just another cricket tournament; it is the energy of a billion hearts wanting to groove! CSK remain the most followed IPL team in 2025, due to their continued success its historic leader and an emotional connect with fans: CHENNAI SUPER KINGS After leading for over a decade now, CSK leads charts again as of 2025. In this regard, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) shines with having the most faithful group of supporters – it shows that faithfulness does not necessarily equate to winning a trophy. Elsewhere, the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue to enjoy robust fan followings – courtesy of sustained success or legacy-driven brand appeal – but newly-established teams such as Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) demonstrate how a support base can quickly be built around a mix of performance and engagement.
At the end of the day, IPL fans are moulded by a mixture of regional partisanship, star performers and performances as well as emotional attachment. Whether it’s the roar of stadium crowds or constant scuttlebutt on social media, fans represent the heartbeat of the league. Now that the IPL has come of age, those teams that are successful in establishing genuine onion-like layers with their fans – both on and off the field – will forever stay ahead in the fan-following race.
