The year 2025 is drawing to a close, and the sports world has witnessed its fair share of thrilling moments and surprising results. For IPL fans, the highlight was finally seeing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lift the coveted trophy, marking a high point in Virat Kohli’s journey that began in 2008. Yet, in an unexpected twist, RCB was not the most searched IPL team of the year. Neither were five-time champions Chennai Super Kings or the iconic Mumbai Indians.
According to Google Trends, the most searched IPL team in 2025 was Punjab Kings, who finished runners-up in IPL 2025. Their global appeal was evident, with the franchise ranking among the world’s most-searched sports teams, behind only Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, and Toronto Blue Jays. The second-most searched IPL team was Delhi Capitals, followed by Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.
Why Punjab Kings captured the nation’s curiosity in the IPL 2025
Commenting on this milestone, Saurabh Arora, Chief Commercial Officer of Punjab Kings, said:
"This means a lot to us because it reflects what we've tried to build this entire year, a team and a brand people genuinely feel connected to. Our focus is always to win on the field, but what makes this journey special is that fans relate to the stories we tell, the culture we celebrate, and the identity Punjab Kings stands for."
Arora added: "Being ranked among the most-searched teams globally is humbling. It tells us that people aren't just watching us; they're invested, curious, and emotionally tied to the team. We take that responsibility seriously and will continue creating moments, stories, and experiences that bring fans even closer, on and off the field."
Google determines top searches primarily by the total number of searches, but consistency and geographical spread are crucial. A single spike in searches is less influential than steady interest across regions, meaning Punjab Kings’ global fan engagement truly set them apart in 2025.
