Who Was the Most Searched Indian Cricketer of the Year?

In a surprising turn of events, Hardik Pandya emerged as the most searched Indian cricketer of the year, surpassing cricket legends Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, according to analysts.

Dhoni attracted significant attention after stepping down as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain before IPL 2024. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also dominated headlines due to India’s T20 World Cup victory, with Rohit leading India to the title and Kohli earning the Player of the Final award. Following their win, both Kohli and Rohit retired from international T20 cricket, further fueling fan interest.

Despite their prominence, it was Hardik Pandya who captured the internet’s attention the most. His high-profile moments included bowling the decisive final over against South Africa in the T20 World Cup Final, taking over as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain from Rohit Sharma, losing India’s T20 captaincy, and announcing his separation from wife Natasa Stankovic.

Pandya’s appointment as MI captain ahead of IPL 2024 faced a mixed response from fans, leading to intense trolling, even at MI’s home ground, Wankhede Stadium. His potential promotion to India’s T20 captaincy also fell through, with Surya Kumar Yadav unexpectedly taking the role. Pandya was not even named vice-captain, surprising many cricket followers.

Additionally, Shashank Singh, who delivered stellar performances for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024, secured the second-most searched spot. The right-handed batsman was retained by Punjab Kings for INR 4 crore ahead of the mega auction.