Kavya Maran, CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has publicly addressed the phenomenon of her viral reactions during IPL matches, which have led to her becoming a popular subject of internet memes. In a recent interview, Maran explained that her emotionally charged responses are a direct result of her deep, personal investment in the team's performance. She also noted the uncanny ability of broadcasters' cameras to consistently capture these moments.
Maran, daughter of Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran, first captured significant public attention during the 2023 IPL auction, where she spearheaded SRH's strategic player acquisitions. Since then, her regular presence at SRH matches, coupled with her expressive reactions to on-field events, has made her a fixture in social media circles.
"Those are my raw emotions that you're seeing," Maran stated. "My role requires me to be present and visible. In Hyderabad, I am limited to sitting in one place. Even when I attend matches in other cities like Ahmedabad or Chennai, seated far away in a box, the cameraman invariably finds me. I understand how this leads to memes."
She further elaborated, "When it comes to Sunrisers, I genuinely wear my heart on my sleeve. When you invest your heart and soul into something, you naturally become deeply attached to its successes and failures."
Under Maran's leadership, SRH's performance in the IPL has been a rollercoaster ride. The team's fortunes have fluctuated considerably from season to season.
After finishing at the bottom of the points table in 2023, despite boasting a seemingly strong squad, the team demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2024. They finished second in the league, securing a place in the final.
The 2025 season saw SRH settling for a mid-table position, winning six of their fourteen matches and missing out on the playoffs.
Despite the recent fluctuations, SRH's history includes one IPL championship, won in 2016. The team's journey under Kavya Maran's stewardship 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 yielded more consistent success, with the team clinching the title in both the inaugural 2023 and 2024 seasons under the captaincy of Aiden Markram.
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