Kavya Maran: The "Queen of Internet Memes" on Her Viral IPL Reactions
Kavya Maran, CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has opened up about her viral reactions during IPL matches, which have made her a popular subject of internet memes. In a recent interview with Fortune India, she explained that her emotional responses are a result of her deep personal investment in the team’s performance. She also noted how broadcasters' cameras consistently capture these moments.
Maran, daughter of Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran, first captured public attention in 2023 during the IPL auction, where she spearheaded SRH's strategic decisions. Since then, she has become a regular fixture at SRH matches, and her on-field reactions have become a staple of social media content.
"Those are my raw emotions that you're seeing because my job has brought me to the point that I have to put myself out there. In Hyderabad, I can't do anything; I have to sit there. That's the only place I can sit. But even when I go to Ahmedabad or Chennai, and I'm sitting many feet away, somewhere in the box, the cameraman manages to find me. So, I understand how it becomes memes," Maran stated.
She further elaborated, "When it comes to Sunrisers, I genuinely wear my heart on my sleeve. I think when you put your heart and soul into something, you naturally tend to get very personally attached to its successes and failures."
Under Maran's leadership, SRH has experienced fluctuating levels of success in the IPL. The team's performance has varied significantly across different seasons.
The franchise finished at the bottom of the points table in 2023, despite having a team that was considered strong on paper. However, they displayed a remarkable turnaround in 2024, securing the second position in the league and reaching the final.
The 2025 season saw a mid-table finish for SRH, with the team winning six out of their fourteen matches. Their playoff aspirations were extinguished relatively early in the tournament.
SRH's history includes one IPL championship, which they clinched in 2016. The team's journey under Kavya's guidance has been characterized by both triumphs and setbacks.
Beyond the IPL, Maran also oversees the Sunrisers Eastern Cape franchise in South Africa's SA20 competition. This venture has seen more consistent success, with the team securing victory in the first two seasons in 2023 and 2024 under the captaincy of Aiden Markram.
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