Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL, has revealed the five most talked-about cricketers in India during the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
The rankings were compiled by Distillery, Star Sports’ central analytics division, which tracked player conversations and engagement trends across social media platforms throughout the tournament.
Interestingly, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not feature in the top five despite generating significant buzz this season.
Instead, the list was dominated by some of Indian cricket’s biggest superstars, with Virat Kohli finishing comfortably ahead of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Virat Kohli Leads IPL 2026 Conversations
Virat Kohli emerged as the most talked-about player of IPL 2026, accounting for 44 per cent of overall social media discussions tracked by Distillery.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star has enjoyed another prolific season, scoring 379 runs and leading RCB’s batting charts.
Kohli also achieved several milestones during the tournament. He became only the third player in IPL history to smash 300 sixes and later became the first batter ever to complete 9,000 runs in league history during a match against Delhi Capitals.
His consistency with the bat also helped him briefly hold the Orange Cap, further strengthening his status as the IPL’s biggest crowd-puller.
MS Dhoni Remains A Major Talking Point Despite Injury
Despite not featuring in a single match this season because of injury concerns, MS Dhoni secured the second position on the list with 21 per cent of overall conversations.
The legendary Chennai Super Kings captain has continued to dominate online discussions, with fans constantly speculating about his fitness and possible retirement plans.
Rumours regarding whether Dhoni may have already played his final IPL match last season have only intensified the buzz surrounding him.
Even from the sidelines, Dhoni’s popularity continues to remain unmatched among cricket fans.
Rohit Sharma Stays In Spotlight Amid Injury Concerns
Rohit Sharma ranked third with 18 per cent of the total social media buzz during IPL 2026.
The Mumbai Indians opener scored 243 runs in six matches, including two half-centuries, before a hamstring injury interrupted his season.
Mumbai Indians’ inconsistent performances combined with Rohit’s absence from several matches further fuelled conversations around the veteran batter.
Sanju Samson’s CSK Move Sparks Massive Interest
Sanju Samson secured fourth place with 10 per cent of discussions.
The wicketkeeper-batter became a major talking point even before the tournament began following his high-profile transfer from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings.
After a slow start to the campaign, Samson rediscovered his form and went on to score two centuries this season, playing a key role in CSK’s successful run.
KL Rahul’s Record-Breaking Knock Dominated Social Media
KL Rahul completed the top five with 8 per cent of the overall buzz.
Rahul grabbed headlines after smashing an unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings, registering the highest individual score by an Indian batter in IPL history.
The innings also became the third-highest individual score in the tournament’s history behind Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175 and Brendon McCullum’s 158 not out.
Although his team ended up losing the match, Rahul’s explosive knock dominated online discussions for days.