Virat Kohli trumps MS Dhoni as the most popular player in IPL 2023: Report

Titled 'IPL 2023: Unveiling the Roar', Interactive Avenues' report provides insights into the digital conversation landscape surrounding the IPL 2023 season.

Interactive Avenues, a full-service digital agency and the digital arm of IPG Mediabrands India, has launched 'IPL 2023: Unveiling the Roar', an exhaustive social media listening report with insights into the digital conversation landscape surrounding the IPL 2023 season.

The report, based on extensive data gathered from online platforms, analyzes the social media buzz generated by IPL 2023.

As per the report, Virat Kohli emerged as the most popular player, with 7 million social media mentions across IPL 2023. Despite Royal Challengers Bangalore's defeat by Gujarat Titans in the final league game, Kohli outperformed MS Dhoni on social media, who garnered 6 million mentions. Kohli generated more brand-related chatter than the next 9 players combined, showcasing his influence and engagement on social platforms.

Shantanu Sirohi, COO, Interactive Avenues, said, “We are thrilled to present the findings of our report 'IPL 2023: Unveiling the Roar.' The social media buzz surrounding the tournament was truly remarkable, with player controversies and emerging talent capturing the hearts and attention of fans. This report offers valuable insights into the power of social media in shaping the narrative of IPL 2023, highlighting the immense popularity of players like Virat Kohli and the impact of strategic partnerships. It is a testament to the ever-growing influence of digital platforms in the world of sports and entertainment.”

"The ‘IPL 2023: Unveiling the Roar’ report leveraged powerful social media listening tools to gather and analyze extensive data from platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and popular cricket forums. We used advanced analytics to study the social media landscape surrounding IPL 2023, including player controversies, performances, public sentiments, and the impact of emerging talent. This comprehensive report offers valuable insights into the social media dynamics of IPL 2023, providing a deeper understanding of the trends, player influence, and brand engagement within the tournament,” added Shantanu.

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Here are some key findings and highlights from the report:

Liked and Disliked Moments

• Rinku Singh's historic match-winning knock against Gujarat Titans received the highest number of social media likes.
• Kohli's controversial argument with Gautam Gambhir and Naveen-ul-Haq generated the most mentions (270K) and engagement (4 million).
• Rohit Sharma's dismissal due to poor performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore drove engagement to the tune of 2 million, making it another highly talked-about moment.

Emerging Players in the Spotlight

• Rinku Singh topped the charts among emerging players with 940K mentions, followed by Yashashvi Jaiswal (250K mentions) and Tilak Verma (190K mentions).

Social Media Buzz and Team Mentions

• The tournament and franchises sparked a whopping 42 million mentions on social media.
• Chennai Super Kings topped the roster with 7.6 million mentions, emerging as the most talked-about team.

Impact of Partnerships and CSR Initiatives

• IPL-based partnerships played a significant role in driving brand perception on social media.
• Gaming was the leading category with 120K mentions, followed by Media with 70K mentions.
• Puma's 'Go Green' campaign in collaboration with Royal Challengers Bangalore garnered 67.2K mentions and drove engagement of more than 1 million.