In 2024, 1xBet closely observed the standout performances of cricketers throughout the season, uncovering notable trends in their social media popularity. It’s well-known that athletes’ stellar performances in high-profile tournaments like the IPL and international matches significantly influence their follower counts. Let’s delve into this phenomenon by examining Instagram follower growth from the start of the year to mid-October 2024.
6. Yashasvi Jaiswal
At just 22 years old, Yashasvi Jaiswal is rapidly making his mark in cricket and social media alike. His Instagram following has skyrocketed, growing from 2,325,991 at the start of 2024 to over 4 million by mid-October—a remarkable 42% increase!
Representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and India on the international stage, Jaiswal has delivered breathtaking performances. In a T20I against Zimbabwe, he set a world record by scoring 13 runs off the first ball, and during a Test match against Bangladesh, he became the first batsman in history to amass over 750 runs in his first 10 home innings.
Respected cricket experts and legends have praised Jaiswal, often comparing him to icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and predicting a phenomenal career ahead. With his stellar form and growing popularity, crossing 10 million followers on Instagram seems well within reach for this rising star.
5. Ruturaj Gaikwad
At the beginning of 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad had 3,312,381 followers on Instagram. In March, he succeeded the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, a move that significantly boosted his audience growth.
Over the next four months, his follower count surged by 1.3 million, marking an impressive 28.5% increase, and surpassed the 4.6 million milestone. A strong start to the IPL season combined with stellar performances for the Indian team during the Zimbabwe vs. India T20I series helped Gaikwad maintain a loyal fan base.
Passionate fans often express their displeasure when Gaikwad is excluded from the Indian squad for major events like the T20I World Cup or key tours against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This wave of criticism frequently translates into a noticeable rise in his social media following.
4. Ishan Kishan
At the start of 2024, Ishan Kishan had 5,970,662 followers on Instagram. By mid-October, this number grew to 7,297,924, reflecting an increase of 1.33 million followers (+18%) by the year’s end. However, this was a significant decline compared to 2023, when his follower count surged by 4 million.
The slower growth in his fanbase can be attributed to a series of unanticipated decisions. Ishan opted out of the Afghanistan T20I Series in India and subsequently withdrew from the Indian team’s tour of South Africa, citing mental fatigue and the need for a break. These actions led to his exclusion from the BCCI’s contract list, effectively removing him from contention for international matches.
During IPL 2024, Ishan Kishan continued to play for the Mumbai Indians but delivered inconsistent performances. His on-field issues were compounded by a fine for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during a match against the Delhi Capitals. While he showed glimpses of his talent in domestic tournaments like the Buchi Babu Trophy, Duleep Trophy 2024, and Ranji Trophy, these efforts failed to win back his disillusioned fans. By late summer, his follower count dipped from a peak of 7.4 million to below 7.3 million, signaling growing disappointment among his audience.
3. Rishabh Pant
At the start of 2024, Rishabh Pant had 9,869,537 followers on Instagram. In February, the athlete gave a long interview about the serious accident that the Delhi Capitals captain and India goalkeeper got into in December 2022.
Then, he miraculously escaped from a car engulfed in flames and destroyed. Due to severe injuries, his sports career was in great doubt. In a candid interview, Rishabh Pant spoke about his recovery and announced his imminent return. The interested audience responded with a flood of new subscribers and overcoming the 10 million mark.
Starved of playing after a year of inactivity, Rishabh Pant has performed well in almost every game that season, delighting his existing fans and attracting new ones. There have been some infractions, too – first, he was fined for violating the IPL Code of Conduct in the clash with Chennai Super Kings, then suspended for one match for another breach of the code in a game against Rajasthan Royals. As a result, Rishabh Pant missed the all-important struggle with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
These and other scandals did not cause a noticeable fan outflow, but the winning ball in India vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test allowed to attract 60,000 new subscribers in just one day on September 27! As of October 16, Rishabh Pant has had 3.87 million new fans since the beginning of the year, or 28.2% in relative terms, which is excellent for a player with a year-long break in his career.
2. Shubmaan Gill
The year began with Shubman Gill boasting 12,153,252 followers on Instagram, a number that surged following his appointment as Gujarat Titans’ captain. His remarkable performances early in the season further cemented his popularity, as he achieved two significant milestones.
In a game against Punjab Kings, Gill registered the highest individual score of IPL 2024 with an impressive 89 runs. Shortly after, during a match against Rajasthan Royals, he became the youngest player to reach 4,000 T20 runs at just 24 years and 215 days, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record of 26 years and 186 days.
Gill’s online presence hit another peak on August 26, when his follower count crossed 15 million for the first time. This spike coincided with a viral deepfake video involving Virat Kohli that unexpectedly drew attention to Gill. Although some followers unsubscribed once the controversy faded, his performances in the September India vs. Bangladesh 2nd Test match, coupled with praise from experts Aakash Chopra and Ravichandran Ashwin, reignited interest in the cricketer. As a result, his follower count exceeded 15 million once more.
By the end of the year, Gill had gained 2.84 million new followers, marking an impressive 18.9% growth in his social media presence.
1. Surya Kumar Yadav
Let’s start our analysis with Surya Kumar Yadav, one of the most popular Indian cricketers. By the beginning of 2024, the player had 12,536,135 followers on Instagram, and by mid-October, 16,752,410. In less than a year, the athlete has gained 4.22 million new fans, and the relative audience growth exceeded 25%!
More than half (2.3 million) of this number subscribed by April 14, even before the active playing season started. The explanation is simple – at the beginning of the year, Surya Kumar Yadav received the prestigious ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award for the second time in a row.
It should be noted that injuries and several unsuccessful games did not lead to the subscribers’ outflow. Nor has the player’s popularity been affected by not being included in India’s ODI squad.
However, winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where Surya Kumar Yadav made one of the best catches in cricket history, significantly increased his recognition. Videos of this moment are going viral on the Internet, and as a result, from June 29 to July 16 alone, 1 million followers subscribed to his page!
However, after the final, Pakistani cricket fans began to accuse Surya Kumar Yadav of cheating – the player allegedly touched the boundary while fielding the ball. The Indians immediately stood up for their favorite, and as a result, the scandal led to an additional increase in the audience. It proves that active supporters become the athlete’s advocates and can effectively protect him from negativity.
