IPL: Sunrisers Hyderabad CEO Kavya Maran Addresses Viral Fame, Credits Passion for Team

Kavya Maran on Becoming an Internet Sensation: 'The Cameraman Always Finds Me'

Kavya Maran

Kavya Maran, CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has opened up about her now-iconic reactions during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, which have frequently turned her into a viral sensation. In a recent interview, Maran explained that her passionate responses stem from her deep personal investment in the team's performance. She also noted the broadcasters' penchant for capturing these moments.

Maran, daughter of Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran, first captured widespread public attention during the 2023 IPL auction, where she spearheaded SRH's strategic decisions. Since then, she has become a fixture at SRH matches, with her reactions to the on-field action becoming a staple of social media.

"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.

"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 fortunes in the IPL. The team's performance has varied significantly from season to season.

After finishing at the bottom of the points table in 2023, despite boasting a strong squad, the team showcased a remarkable turnaround in 2024, securing the second position in the league and advancing to the final.

The 2025 season saw SRH finish in a mid-table position, winning six of their fourteen matches and missing out on the playoffs.

SRH's history includes one IPL championship, won in 2016. The team's journey under Kavya's leadership 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 enjoyed greater success, with the team winning the first two seasons in 2023 and 2024 under Aiden Markram's captaincy.