Remember when IPL auctions were just about rich people raising fancy paddles in air-conditioned rooms? Well, 2024 said "hold my digital beer”.
While team owners were busy emptying their bank accounts in the auction room, their social media teams were cooking up a storm that would make MasterChef contestants nervous.
From turning Sarojini Market into Starc’s hunting ground to making Rishabh Pant shoot webs across Lucknow (yes, really), this wasn't just an auction – it was a festival of peak internet culture.
Grab your phones and disable your notifications, because we're about to dive into a masterclass of how cricket teams turned a serious business event into the greatest meme party of 2024.
Trust us, by the end of this, you'll wonder if these teams are here to play cricket or run comedy channels.
KKR's weather report: It's raining sixes
KKR’s announcement of Rovman Powell was nothing short of a blockbuster. In a hilarious video, a man walking past Eden Gardens checks his phone only to see an alert: “Severe weather warning: Raining sixes.” Before he can react, cricket balls come pelting down from the sky, forcing him to flee. KKR's cheeky caption? “Take cover Kolkata!” Fans couldn’t get enough of the Caribbean flair-gun joining the squad, with one user quipping: “Hope Eden Gardens has insurance for broken roofs.”
Mumbai Indians go full gamer mode
Mumbai Indians didn't just sign Will Jacks – they turned him into a videogame character. Pairing him with Hardik Pandya in a split-screen worthy of Street Fighter, they dropped the ultimate combo move: "PRESS X+O for finisher move." Add a dash of "Do Bhai, Full Tabahi," and boom! Mumbai Indians just won the internet's heart with this perfect marriage of cricket and gaming culture.
CSK's multiverse of Ravis
Chennai Super Kings pulled off the ultimate crossover episode! By nabbing Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, they created their own "RRR" – but instead of running from tigers, these three will be hunting down batsmen! Their "Multiverse of Ravis" post had 44,000 fans wondering if this was IPL or the next blockbuster movie.
RCB’s Salt-bae moments
Royal Challengers Bangalore turned their Rs 11.50 crore signing of Phil Salt into a masterchef moment! Showing their new star sprinkling seasoning in RCB colours, they proved that sometimes you need just a pinch of salt to perfect your recipe. Gordon Ramsay would be proud!
Delhi Capitals' great Starc hunt
Ever tried finding Mitchell Starc in Sarojini Market? Delhi Capitals did! In a hilarious video, a man is seen wandering Delhi’s Sarojini Market, asking for something no vendor has. A seller finally points him toward Feroz Shah Kotla, implying Starc is “off the market.” The post highlighted Starc’s unmatched pace and his rare distinction of winning ICC trophies across formats. With 65,000 likes, it was one of the most engaging posts of the auction.
SRH's bromance alert
Sunrisers Hyderabad didn't just announce players; they reunited soulmates! The Travis Head and Adam Zampa announcement was straight out of a buddy comedy, with a photo that could put any BFF goals post to shame. "When you realise you and your best friend are going to be on the same team (again)" – the caption read like a teenage diary entry, but fans weren't complaining!
Punjab Kings' rich-kid energy
When you spend Rs 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer (making him the second-most expensive IPL purchase ever), you've got to flex a little. Punjab Kings’ announcement video featuring a Punjabi ‘munda’ sporting "Amiri" (riches) branded jeans while pointing at Iyer's giant poster was peak Punjabi swag.
Gujarat Titans' retirement prank
Just when you thought mentor meetings couldn't be entertaining, Gujarat Titans turned a casual conversation between Ashish Nehra and Stephen Fleming into pure social media gold. The candid camera caught Fleming playfully threatening to replace Nehra, leading to our beloved Nehraji dropping the retirement bomb: "I'm taking my retirement back!" GT's caption "If Nehraji laces up again, it'll be in blue" had fans imagining the return of those legendary facial expressions and unique bowling actions. The post wasn't just funny – it was a masterclass in turning behind-the-scenes moments into viral content. Nehra's meme potential remains undefeated, proving that some legends never retire from entertaining!
Rajasthan Royals' Bollywood Dreams
Jofra Archer didn't just return to Rajasthan – he got the full K3G treatment! Complete with helicopter entrance, flowing long coat, and that signature run, this Rs 12.5 crore comeback had everything except Kajol running through mustard fields. The recreation of the iconic scene had fans wondering if Rajasthan had secretly hired K-Jo as their social media director. Even Shah Rukh Khan would've shed a tear watching Archer's perfectly timed hair flip against the Jaipur sunset.
LSG's Spider-Pant
Lucknow Super Giants turned their record-breaking Rs 27-crore bid for Rishabh Pant into a Spider-Man spectacular. With great power comes great responsibility... to create viral content! And boy, did they deliver! Their Rishabh Pant announcement reimagined the wicketkeeper-batsman as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, complete with web-slinging action across Lucknow's skyline. The cherry on top? They used lyrics of Pant's viral singing clip of the Hindi Spider-Man theme song as caption: "tune churaya mera dil ka chain”.
And the Social Media trophy goes to...
We could be diplomatic and say everyone was a winner, but let's be real – Delhi Capitals' Sarojini Market saga hit differently. With 65,000 people smashing that like button, they proved that sometimes the best way to announce a multi-million dollar signing is by sending him shopping for bargains. Who knew Starc and Sarojini would be the collab we didn't know we needed?
If you thought the auction was expensive, imagine the phone bills of social media managers who haven't stopped typing since. Between RCB's salt-bae moments and LSG turning Pant into Spider-Man, IPL 2025 isn't just promising cricket – it's serving entertainment with a side of viral memes.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Mumbai, a social media intern is already drafting the perfect caption for their first practice session... no pressure.