As IPL 2026 heads toward its final phase, the battle is no longer limited to the cricket field — social media has become another arena where players are dominating headlines. In the latest list released by Star Sports, Virat Kohli once again emerged as the most talked-about cricketer, while the absence of young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi from the top rankings has become a major talking point among fans.
According to Star Sports, 44 percent of all IPL-related social media discussions this season revolved around Virat Kohli. Despite consecutive ducks in two matches, Kohli’s popularity remains untouched. His 379 runs have played a crucial role in keeping Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the top of the points table, while his strike rate of 163 continues to impress fans.
MS Dhoni secured the second spot with 21 percent of the discussions. Surprisingly, Dhoni hasn’t played a single match this season, yet fan interest around him remains massive. Rohit Sharma stood third with 18 percent, followed by Sanju Samson with 10 percent and KL Rahul with 8 percent.
However, the biggest surprise was the exclusion of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi from the top five list. The youngster, who has scored 440 runs at a stunning strike rate of 236 this season, has been one of the most exciting performers of the tournament. After grabbing attention last season with a 35-ball century, many expected him to dominate social media conversations as well.
Apart from Vaibhav, star players like Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya also failed to make the list. The rankings once again highlight the unmatched brand value and online influence of senior cricketers in the IPL.
