Punjab​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Kings (PBKS), to the surprise of everyone, has been the top trending IPL team in India on Google in 2025 as per Google’s Year in Search data that was made public on 6 December 2025. This major achievement is a strong upturn of fan enthusiasm and their engagement in the digital space around IPL teams. 

Normally, the likes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dominating the Indian cricket franchises scene, but the rise of PBKS is essentially a change in the way fans reach out to teams without necessarily watching the matches. Their digital presence, marketing moves, and thrilling games have, without a doubt, been noticed by the cricket lovers all over the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌world. 

Punjab Kings in the Global Spotlight 

Not just Indian fans are intrigued by PBKS; Google also ranks it fourth place among their Top Five Most-Searched Sports Teams globally for 2025. These five sports clubs globally include: 

Paris Saint-Germain FC and S.L. Benfica will face each other during a friendly clash while Toronto Blue Jays will also play Punjab Kings for this series of fixtures. 

Delhi Capitals 

This achievement for PBKS marks an outstanding accomplishment that puts them among international greats. Such recognition exemplifies how the IPL has grown into an international league that attracts fans all around the world. 

An Enthralling Season That Captivated Attention 

Punjab​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​ Kings became very famous, and everyone started to talk about them the day they won the final berth of IPL after 2014, which was their second time only. They were later defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling final match, but their excellent performance throughout the season was the reason why the fans were glued to them and were always eager to know what was next in store for the team. 

Punjab Kings were the champions and the season that they had was excellent, full of triumphs and great spirit in fighting against the challenges. Their adventure consisted of hard-fought matches, very close finishes, and amazing efforts by individual players that were not only widely discussed in India but also ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​worldwide. 

High-Profile Moves That Increased Popularity 

PBKS’ off-field decisions played an essential part in garnering them an increase in prominence. Their pre-season mega auction became the catalyst that ignited fan and media interest – Shreyas Iyer was acquired for Rs 26.75 crore as one of IPL history’s highest purchases, thrusting their franchise under a spotlight and leading fans and media alike to closely follow them across social media platforms. 

As well as signing Iyer, PBKS appointed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting to serve as their head coach. Ponting brought with him experience, tactical expertise and global perspective which added further buzz around PBKS. They further expanded their squad by including key players such as spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who provided depth and skill into their bowling attack. 

Strategic moves combined with on-field success made these strategic moves irresistible to fans, sparking their curiosity to search out more about them online. Each auction decision, player transfer or coaching decision became newsworthy enough that people began searching online. 

Fans Unite Beyond Cricket 

Punjab Kings have seen their search rankings surge not just because of wins and losses; according to Saurabh Arora, Chief Commercial Officer for PBKS, its global recognition stems from deliberate efforts made in building emotional connections with fans worldwide. 

“This ranking means a great deal to us because it represents what we’ve worked towards all year – creating an identity and brand that fans feel passionately connected with,” Arora stated. Winning games is important but what really sets Punjab Kings apart is connecting with their fan base through stories they tell, culture they celebrate and identities it stands for. 

“Ranked among the world’s most-searched teams demonstrates how passionate our fans are; not only are they watching matches; they are curious, invested, and emotionally tied to our team. We take this responsibility seriously and are constantly creating unforgettable moments, stories, and experiences to bring fans even closer.” 

Social Media and Digital Engagement 

One key reason behind PBKS’s surge in search popularity lies with their strategic digital plan. By employing social media channels such as Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for direct interaction with fans, including behind-the-scenes videos, player interviews, and even interactive campaigns — PBKS has really tried to create a direct connection between the fans and the team. 

The use of digital channels has also been a big factor in making PBKS a more popular brand worldwide; the sharing of match highlights, audience reactions, and exclusive interviews globally is what keeps PBKS as not just an IPL team but rather a brand name that is heard and loved everywhere including India. 

Without a doubt, Shreyas Iyer was the one who led PBKS to the top this season as a Captain. His ability to lead together with remarkable on-field performances made him the darling of the crowd and made Iyer a critical part of the team’s new energy and perky ambition. His contributions went far beyond mere statistics to represent all they wanted from Iyer. 

Fans were delighted by Iyer’s record-setting performances, with his signing for Rs 26.75 crore adding even further excitement and interest from viewers worldwide. Each time he took to the field millions of fans would search for updates, match highlights and stats — prompting PBKS’s ascension as one of the top IPL teams searched by internet searchers. 

From Fans’ Perspective 

The online interest shown towards PBKS reflects their expanding fan base. While other franchises like CSK, MI, and RCB boast decades of dedicated followership amongst their respective fan bases; while with PBKS they’ve slowly attracted younger, digitally active audiences that engage with online content while discussing team updates across platforms making PBKS trending topics everywhere they turn! 

Fans are connecting with PBKS not just because of its cricket but for its culture, branding and personality as well. PBKS actively highlights its Punjab heritage while celebrating local talent while telling stories that resonate emotionally with fans; making the team relatable and memorable for its supporters. 

Expectations For the IPL Franchise 

Being recognized as the world’s most-searched IPL team has raised high expectations of PBKS going into future seasons, both fans and analysts will closely monitor if PBKS can convert online popularity to consistent on-field success. In addition, expanding fan bases globally, engaging followers globally, and offering experiences which make fans part of its journey are priorities of franchise expansion plans. 

With strategic signings, strong leadership, and fan engagement as its foundation, PBKS stands a good chance at keeping its momentum alive. However, maintaining it requires striking the proper balance between on-field performance and digital engagement for maximum growth in both areas simultaneously. 

Conclusion 

Punjab Kings’ rise as the most-searched IPL team this season is testament to how cricket is evolving in a digital environment, showing that fan engagement, strong branding and memorable performances can set an underdog team apart even among giants such as MS Dhoni or Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises like Mumbai Indians or Kolkata Knight Riders (PKKS). Their journey shows all franchises the value in creating connections beyond simply winning matches and connecting with fans beyond winning matches alone. 

With thrilling cricket matches, clever marketing, and an expanding fan base, PBKS has not only made history in India but has made waves globally as well. Fans eagerly anticipate what PBKS has in store next both on the pitch and online.