cricketers who showed themselves most brightly in the current season and noted certain patterns in their popularity changes on social media. It is no secret that the athletes’ successful play during major tournaments, including the IPL and international competitions, affects the number of subscribers. Let’s consider this pattern using Instagram as an example, based on the followers’ growth from the beginning of the year
Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
Let’s begin with Surya Kumar Yadav, one of India’s most popular cricketers. By early 2024, he had 12,536,135 followers on Instagram, and by mid-October, that number had soared to 16,752,410. In less than a year, Surya gained 4.22 million new followers, marking a growth of over 25%.
A significant portion of this growth—2.3 million followers—came by April 14, even before the season kicked off. This surge can be attributed to Surya’s second consecutive ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award. Despite injuries and some tough performances, his followers remained loyal, and his popularity remained unaffected even after being excluded from India’s ODI squad.
The turning point came with his remarkable performance in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including one of the most iconic catches in cricket history. Videos of this moment went viral, adding another 1 million followers from June 29 to July 16. The controversy that followed after the final—where Pakistani fans accused Surya of cheating—only increased his fan base, with Indian supporters rallying around him. This scenario highlighted how passionate fans can defend their favorites, boosting their popularity even further.
Shubman Gill (@shubmangill)
Shubman Gill started 2024 with 12,153,252 Instagram followers and saw rapid growth after becoming the Gujarat Titans captain. He had an impressive start to the season, setting two records.
In a match against Punjab Kings, Shubman scored 89 runs, marking the best individual score in IPL 2024. Later, in a game against Rajasthan Royals, he became the youngest player (24 years, 215 days) to reach 4,000 T20 runs, breaking Virat Kohli’s record (26 years, 186 days).
By August 26, Shubman hit the 15 million follower mark, largely due to a deepfake video featuring Virat Kohli criticizing him. Despite the controversy, Shubman gained followers, although some unfollowed when the hype around the incident died down.
His stellar performance in the India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test and praise from experts like Aakash Chopra and Ashwin helped him recover and exceed 15 million followers again. By the end of the year, Shubman gained 2.84 million new followers, marking an 18.9% growth.
Rishabh Pant (@rishabpant)
Rishabh Pant began 2024 with 9,869,537 followers on Instagram. His following saw a sharp increase after he gave an emotional interview about his recovery from a horrific car accident in December 2022, in which he escaped a burning vehicle.
His candid conversation about overcoming injuries and returning to the game resonated with fans, helping him surpass 10 million followers. Although he faced some disciplinary issues, including fines and suspensions, his performances in the India vs Bangladesh Test series attracted a wave of new followers. On September 27, he gained 60,000 new followers in just one day.
By October 16, Rishabh had gained 3.87 million new followers, marking a 28.2% increase despite a year-long hiatus from playing.
Ishan Kishan (@ishankishan23)
Ishan Kishan started 2024 with 5,970,662 followers on Instagram, and by mid-October, that number had grown to 7,297,924. However, his growth slowed compared to 2023, where he added 4 million followers.
The slowdown was linked to his unexpected break from international cricket. Ishan refused to participate in the Afghanistan tour and later withdrew from the South Africa tour, citing psychological fatigue. His absence from the BCCI contract list and IPL Code of Conduct violations also affected his fan base.
Despite strong performances in domestic tournaments, such as the Buchi Babu Trophy and Duleep Trophy, Ishan’s audience continued to dwindle. By late summer, his follower count dropped below 7.3 million, signaling a growing discontent among his fans.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (@ruutu.131)
At the start of 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad had 3,312,381 followers on Instagram. After replacing MS Dhoni as captain of Chennai Super Kings, his popularity surged.
Over the next four months, he gained 1.3 million new followers (+28.5%), bringing his total to over 4.6 million. Strong performances for both CSK and the Indian team during the Zimbabwe T20I series helped him maintain his loyal fanbase.
Whenever Ruturaj was excluded from the Indian squad for the T20I World Cup or tours against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, his fans voiced strong criticism. This fervent support often led to even more followers as the controversy played out.