Kavya Maran, co-owner and CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Executive Director of Sun TV Network, has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Indian Premier League (IPL) — not for wielding a bat or ball, but for her highly expressive reactions in the stands. Now, she has finally broken her silence on going viral almost every season.
Maran, whose animated presence at SRH games often becomes instant meme material on social media, spoke candidly in a recent interview about the scrutiny she faces every time the camera pans to her.
In an interview with Fortune India, she reflected on the media attention and meme culture surrounding her appearances during IPL matches.
“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.”
Despite not coming from a traditional sports or entertainment background, Maran has become an emblem of SRH fandom — her visible reactions capturing the full rollercoaster of emotions that IPL fans feel.
In the same conversation, she opened up about her deep connection with 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.”
Her emotional commitment to the franchise is unsurprising, given her dual role with Sun TV and SRH, as well as her involvement with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20 league. Her visibility, combined with SRH’s resurgence in recent years, has elevated her presence in the public eye.
The 2024 season was a high point for the Orange Army, reaching the IPL final. However, 2025 saw a downturn, with the team securing only six wins. Throughout the ups and downs, Maran’s reactions — from joy to frustration — have become a familiar fixture for fans and meme-makers alike.
Now, with Maran speaking out, the public gets a rare glimpse into the personal side of ownership in a league where every run, wicket, and expression is broadcast across millions of screens.
