IPL: SRH's Kavya Maran Addresses Viral Meme Status, Passion for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Kavya Maran, CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has addressed the viral phenomenon surrounding her reactions during IPL matches. These moments, frequently captured by broadcasters, have turned her into a popular subject for internet memes.

In a recent interview with Fortune India, Maran explained that her emotional responses are a direct reflection of her deep personal investment in the team's performance. She is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Sun Group.

Maran first gained widespread public attention during the 2023 IPL auction, where she spearheaded SRH's strategic decisions. Since then, her presence at SRH matches has become a fixture, with her reactions to the on-field action quickly going viral.

"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," Maran stated. She acknowledged the cameramen's knack for finding her, regardless of her location in the stadium, saying, "the cameraman manages to find me. So, I understand how it becomes memes."

She further elaborated on her passionate connection to the team: "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's performance in the IPL has been a rollercoaster.

• In 2023, the team finished at the bottom of the points table, a disappointing result considering the perceived strength of the squad.
• However, they bounced back remarkably in 2024, securing second place in the league and reaching the final.
• The 2025 season saw a more moderate performance, with a mid-table finish after winning six of their fourteen matches. Their playoff aspirations were cut short relatively early in the tournament.

SRH's crowning achievement remains their 2016 IPL championship. The team's journey under Kavya Maran's stewardship has been characterized by both periods of struggle and moments of triumph.

Beyond the IPL, Maran also oversees the Sunrisers Eastern Cape franchise in South Africa's SA20 competition. This venture has yielded more consistent success, with the team winning the first two seasons in 2023 and 2024 under the captaincy of Aiden Markram.