Sunrisers Hyderabad CEO Kavya Maran on Viral IPL Memes: 'Cameras Always Find Me'

Kavya Maran on Viral IPL Reactions: 'The Cameraman Always Finds Me'

Kavya Maran, CEO and co-owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has opened up about the moments that have turned her into a beloved internet meme. In a recent interview, Maran addressed her often-viral reactions during IPL matches, acknowledging that her passionate responses stem from a genuine emotional investment in the team's performance. She noted that broadcasters' cameras consistently capture these moments, regardless of her location in the stadium.

Maran, the daughter of Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran, first captured the public's attention during the 2023 IPL auction, where she spearheaded SRH's strategic decisions. Since then, her regular presence at SRH matches, coupled with her visible reactions to the game's ebb and flow, have become a constant source of social media content.

"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," Maran explained. "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."

She further elaborated on her deep connection to the team: "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's performance in the IPL has been a roller coaster.

• In 2023, the franchise finished at the bottom of the points table, a disappointing result considering the team's perceived strength.
• However, 2024 witnessed a significant turnaround, with SRH securing the second position in the league and reaching the final.
• The 2025 season saw a more moderate performance, with a mid-table finish after winning six out of fourteen matches.

Despite the fluctuations, SRH's history includes one IPL championship, won in 2016.

Beyond the IPL, Maran also oversees the Sunrisers Eastern Cape franchise in South Africa's SA20 competition. The Eastern Cape team has enjoyed considerable success, winning the first two seasons in 2023 and 2024 under the captaincy of Aiden Markram.