The year 2024 was nothing short of thrilling for cricket fans who enjoyed a feast of remarkable performances on the field. Beyond the boundaries and wickets, fans sought to learn more about their favourite players by diving into their social media updates and frequently turning to Google for insights. While star players like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma traditionally dominate online searches, the year saw some unexpected names surpass them in popularity, creating a buzz among cricket enthusiasts.
Here are three cricketers who stood out as the most Googled Indian players of the year, driven by their on-field heroics and compelling personal narratives.
1. Hardik Pandya:
Hardik Pandya certainly deserved the first place as he had perhaps the most dramatic year of the three. Returning to Mumbai Indians as captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, he faced significant backlash from fans and endured a dismal IPL campaign. His underwhelming performance both as a player and as a captain left Mumbai languishing at the bottom of the table.
Yet, Hardik redeemed himself in spectacular fashion during India’s T20 World Cup triumph. His all-round contributions played a crucial role in ending the nation’s 11-year ICC title drought, cementing his legacy as a clutch performer under pressure. Not to forget to mention that he also went through a tough phase in his personal life as he got divorced with his wife Natasa Stankovic.
2. Shashank Singh:
Shashank Singh, a less familiar name at the start of 2024, quickly became a headline-maker. Acquired by Punjab Kings in the IPL mini-auction, he transformed skepticism into admiration with consistent, match-winning performances. If you remember, earlier it was said by Punjab Kings that they bought him by mistake as there is another player with the same name whom they wanted to purchase. However, later on, they tried to control the damage by saying that there was some confusion and he is the player whom they wanted to buy.
Scoring 354 runs in 14 matches with a strike rate of 164.65, Shashank’s two half-centuries stood out even as Punjab struggled in the tournament. His retention for the 2025 season at a lucrative INR 5.50 crore solidified his status as a rising star.
3. Abhishek Sharma:
Abhishek Sharma emerged as a breakout star, captivating audiences with his performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and his entry into international cricket. Scoring 484 runs across 16 matches with an impressive strike rate of 204.22, Abhishek proved to be a game-changer in the T20 format.
His international debut in Zimbabwe may have started with a four-ball duck but he bounced back spectacularly with a century in his second T20I, amassing 256 runs in 12 matches for India by the end of the year.
These players’ journeys in 2024 showcased the unpredictable and captivating nature of cricket, leaving fans eagerly waiting what the next year might bring.
