Statistics show that Instagram following rates tell an interesting story of how Indian cricket has taken the world by storm, especially by making Virat Kohli one of the biggest idols of modern cricket. As of now, Kohli is leading among other cricket icons with 270 million followers on social media platforms, a mark of his appeal in the international market.
A record display of performance coupled with Kohli’s stringent, on-field arrogance makes him a crush-worthy sports personality. He also boasts formidable statistical numbers including more than 24000 international runs, and 74 international hundreds, alongside a great batting average placing him among today’s cricketing greats.
Tracing Fan Following of Indian Cricket’s Major Personalities
Even though MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, he still has tons of fans worldwide. Dhoni is a popular cricketer who has over 50 million followers on social media platforms. Due to his leadership journey as a captain, he became a legend and led India to victory in the three major ICC tournaments. The superb executive and psychological sense he possesses, along with his cool head has established an enduring legacy beyond numbers, as per Olympics.
Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian cricket team, is yet another example of an extremely popular cricketer. With roughly 40 million followers on social media, Sharma has also become one of the most popular cricketing personalities on social media. He has been IPL champion five times while being the captain of Mumbai Indians and has performed reliably in international formats, that have established him as a modern cricketing giant.
Apart from the top three, Khaleel Ahamed, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin, and many more Indian cricketers also have humongous followings on social media. Ravindra Jadeja, an all-round player has more than 25 million followers, and Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul both have around 15-20 million followers. The talented pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also accumulated about 15 million followers.
The fan following of these cricketers cannot be described in mere statistical terms. It is based on regular international performances, which has effectively made them cricketing gods. Every player has developed an image that attracts fans of different ages and from different regions of the world.
This depth of fan engagement provokes several questions regarding modern sports celebrities. How exactly do individual accomplishments result in international audience devotion? What propels these cricketers over geographical and cultural divides? In what ways do personal forms and social media participation enhance their popularity?
