Best IPL Advertisements: When Creativity Meets Cricket

Overflowing with the madness of gully cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has bewitched cricket lovers with power-packed, thrilling matches, bold colours, and catchy theme songs. India’s most affluent and biggest sporting tournament, IPL, is a uniquely engaging event and a splendid marketing opportunity for brands.

For the past 17 years, IPL has continued to give cricket fans a buzz and is the perfect breeding ground for a heady cocktail of money, glamour, sports, and showbiz. That being said, each year, with enormous marketing budgets of rands, they present exceptionally eye-catching ad campaigns.

Here is the top pick of the best IPL advertisements made for IPL since 2008:

1. 2008: DLF— Manoranjan Ka Baap
2. 2009: Vodafone— ZooZoo
3. 2009: Sony Max— The Home of IPL
4. 2010: Sony Max— Saare Jahan Se Acha
5. 2012: Sony Max- Mauka Stadium Campaign
6. 2013: Pepsi— Oh Yes Abhi!
7. 2014: Pepsi— Kanna Keep Calm
8. 2016: Vivo- Pistah
9. 2017: Jio- Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan
10. 2018: Swiggy— No Order Too Small
11. 2019: Star Sports— Game Banayega Name
12. 2020: Facebook— More Together
13. 2021: Disney+Hotstar— #IndiaKiVibeAlagHai
14. 2022: CRED— Play It Different
15. 2024: JioCinema- Sab Yahaan, Aur Kahaan!
16. 2024: Dream11: Iss Tournament Mein, #TeamSeBadaKuchNahi

2008: DLF— Manoranjan Ka Baap

It was a usual summer of 2008 for most Indians until the Manoranjan ka baap (father of entertainment) came. Breaking the regular features of cricket, the DLF-sponsored Indian Premier League announced its inaugural edition with an unforgettable advertisement campaign— Manoranjan ka baap.

The IPL, which started in 2008, marketed itself as a dramatic three-hour extravaganza of cricket, as DLF came up with an advertisement depicting the story that pitched the DLF IPL Championship as the ultimate destination for entertainment on TV. The 75-second commercial narrated a dramatic tale of a mother and her twin sons named Mano and Ranjan, who were constantly victimized and subjected to barbs by the entire village, asking, ‘Kab aayega tumhara baap?’ (When will your father arrive?). The frustrated and sad mother decides to end her life, and just like 90's classic Bollywood masala film, the twins stop her in time, screaming that their father has arrived— the children dance with joy, and their mother tears with joy as the TV set with the voiceover announces ‘Aa Gaya, Manoranjan ka Baap, DLF IPL'.

IPL's first ad campaign is iconic for its creativity and melodrama. DLF's ‘Manoranjan Ka Baap’ was a complete entertainment package and is still unforgettable.

2009: Vodafone— ZooZoo

Vodafone surely knows how to use the right amount of that cute factor to win one's heart. The mobile service company initially won hearts with a pug and wanted something unique for the second season of the IPL. Employing Ogilvy & Mather, Vodafone presented a striking commercial that made people go "Awwww". They came up with ZooZoo— small white egg-headed, toothy-smile, gibberish-speaking creatures.

A series of 30 ZooZoo advertisements were created with a mini-funny story that aired daily during the IPL Season 2. Every Man of the Match player was escorted by these ZooZoos, with the IPL 2009 jingle playing in the background. These funny characters became an instant hit and gauged a massive fan following on social media. There are over 200 pages on ZooZoos on networking sites such as Facebook, Orkut, and Twitter— over 250000 fans. The ads were even viewed multiple times by thousands of people on YouTube.

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2009: Sony Max— The Home of IPL

In 2009, IPL was to be hosted in South Africa— the first time a domestic event took place on a foreign ground. This marquee event called for an ad that would be global but with Indian roots and ethos.

The commercial had a beautiful concept that showed the probability of what the world would have looked like without any borders— emphasizing the strong influence of the Indian diaspora. With a theme that sports have the power to bring the world together in one place, Sony Max, the then-official broadcaster of IPL, came up with this hypothetical yet beautiful narrative that brought the world closer to the viewer— in the face of live television. The global nature of this ad became an instant hit.

2010: Sony Max— Saare Jahan Se Acha

The IPL 2010 advertisement titled "Saare Jahan Se Acha" was a significant promotional campaign for the Indian Premier League. This advertisement aimed to capture the essence of the IPL as a cricketing extravaganza intertwined with entertainment, Bollywood, and corporate India. It highlighted the unique blend of cricket and entertainment that resonates with the Indian audience, which is known for its passion for cricket and movies. The ad showcased the vibrant and colourful nature of the IPL, featuring big names from Bollywood and corporate sectors, creating a product that appealed to a wide audience base.

The IPL 2010 advertisement was special because it effectively leveraged the concept of Mega marketing, incorporating elements of Public Relations and Power to promote the event. It strategically utilized the traditional Marketing Mix of 4Ps (Product, Place, Price, and Promotion) to establish a competitive advantage over similar sports and entertainment programs. 

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2012: Sony Max- Mauka Stadium Campaign

The IPL 2012 advertisement titled "DLF IPL 2012 MAX Campaign Mauka Stadium HD" was a significant promotional campaign for the Indian Premier League in 2012. This advertisement aimed to capture the excitement and grandeur of the IPL, showcasing the league as a premier cricketing event that combined sportsmanship, entertainment, and a sense of national pride. The ad featured high-quality production, engaging visuals, and a captivating narrative that resonated with cricket fans across India and beyond.

The IPL 2012 advertisement was special because it effectively encapsulated the essence of the IPL as a platform that not only celebrated cricket but also brought people together, fostering a sense of unity and pride. It highlighted the competitive spirit of the tournament, the thrill of the matches, and the camaraderie among players and fans. The advertisement's special appeal lies in its ability to evoke emotions, build anticipation, and create a sense of belonging among viewers, making them feel part of something larger than a cricket tournament.

2013: Pepsi— Oh Yes Abhi!

Rightly called the mother of all IPL campaigns, Pepsi's "Oh Yes Abhi!" has successfully captured the pulse of the Indian youth. IPL had become a prominent craze amongst youngsters, and this ad was all about the impatient Indian-youth raring to do things “right here, right now”.

The IPL ad campaign featured celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, burning with passion and letting their guards down in a moment of joy. The campaign, “Oh Yes, Abhi” states that one should live for the moment as if there's no tomorrow.

2014: Pepsi— Kanna Keep Calm

For the 2014 IPL, Pepsi's ad targeted a specific age group— the late teens to early 30s. Just like its commercial in the previous season of the IPL, Pepsi cast all young Indians for the ad who were stuck in the mundane situations of everyday life and wanted to escape. And the best way to do this is by watching IPL on their mobile devices. With a catchy background score and funny vocals, the ad became quite popular and secured over three lakh views on YouTube.

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2016: Vivo- Pistah

The IPL 2016 advertisement titled "IPL 2016 Promo Song 'Pistah'" was a vibrant and colourful promotional campaign for the Indian Premier League in 2016. This advertisement aimed to capture the excitement and energy of the IPL, showcasing the league as a premier cricketing event that brought together cricket, entertainment, and a sense of national pride. The ad featured a catchy promotional song, engaging visuals, and a captivating narrative that resonated with cricket fans across India and beyond.

The IPL 2016 advertisement was special because it effectively encapsulated the essence of the IPL as a platform that not only celebrated cricket but also brought people together, fostering a sense of unity and pride. It highlighted the competitive spirit of the tournament, the thrill of the matches, and the camaraderie among players and fans. The advertisement's special appeal lies in its ability to evoke emotions, build anticipation, and create a sense of belonging among viewers, making them feel part of something larger than a cricket tournament.

2017: Jio- Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan

The advertisement with the plate number "plate_number_1" titled "Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan - bringing people together through cricket" was a special promotional campaign for the Indian Premier League in 2017. The aim of this advertisement was to capture the excitement and unity that the IPL brings to cricket fans not only in India but also worldwide. The ad featured a lively and energetic promotional song, engaging visuals, and a captivating narrative that resonated with viewers.

The advertisement featuring IPL 2017 was exceptional in the sense that it managed to capture the essence of the IPL as not just a cricket league, but a cultural phenomenon that brings people together, celebrates talent, and showcases the best of cricket and entertainment on a grand stage. The advertisement's catchy promotional song, "Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan," further enhanced its appeal by making it memorable and engaging for viewers.

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2018: Swiggy— No Order Too Small

In 2018, the online food-ordering company presented a wholesome ad that said, "No order is too small". The commercial narrated the story of a man in his forties, ordering a piece of gulab jamun on Swiggy and popping it in his mouth before his wife realises what’s happening.

The dialogue-less ad, championed by Swiggy, showed that they value the people, not their order value. With their "No order too small” commercial, they let users order even the smallest quantity of food possible, which increased Swiggy's new user orders by 23%.

2019: Star Sports— Game Banayega Name

The winner of the Campaign of the Year award at the Shark Awards, Star Sports favourite’ message with this ad ties back to the very spirit of IPL. The best ad of 2019, Star Sports’ “Game Banayenge Name”, fueled the cricketing spirit of Indians that rose from the streets. The ad narrated a single story seen through two sides— one gully cricket and IPL—with a clever use of the split screen. The two sides were fighting for space on the screen, and finally, the earthy background score took over with the jingle singing— whatever the ground was, the game would be the same. The small elements that contributed to the ad made it a hit— reflecting the spirit of young India and countless cricketers who rose from the streets to play in the biggest-ever IPL.

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2020: Facebook— More Together

With the dawn of the Corona pandemic, 2020 was a rough year for everyone, and more than ever, we needed to see and hear inspirational stories of our communities working together.

For IPL 2020, Facebook infused this feeling in the cricket-theme rendition of their More Together campaign. With four ads knitted together, Facebook told inspirational stories of people coming together on the platform to make a difference. The ad film follows IPL fans ordering jerseys from their favourite teams to enjoy IPL from their homes, which brought profit to a small business. During the festive season of the IPL, Facebook wanted to highlight how our collective actions can create beautiful outcomes.

2021: Disney+Hotstar— #IndiaKiVibeAlagHai

Disney+Hotstar’s music-themed IPL campaign is rightfully lauded as one of the best ad campaigns with a multilingual anthem. Created by one of India’s hottest musicians, Nucleya, the anthem had cricket fans feeling many emotions. Featuring eight Indian languages and sung by eight rappers across India, the anthem perfectly depicted the inter-city rivalry on the field. The fun and multilingual piece brought together fans from across the country to dance to its tune, heralding unity.

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2022: CRED— Play It Different

The Indian fintech company, CRED, founded in 2018, showed a unique and memorable ad for the 2022 IPL. Signing up Karishma Kapoor, the innovative ad with the slogan “Play It Different,” recreated a Nirma ad from the 90s. CRED used this ad to introduce its bounty for the 2022 IPL. This IPL ad campaign came with a contest that is open to CRED members and to partner with friends, family, or teammates to win the big prize.

2023: Dream11— #SabKhelenge

The fantasy gaming platform Dream11 won hearts with their 3 Idiots campaign titled #SabKhelenge. The multi-starred ad has infused India’s two biggest obsessions – Bollywood and cricket. Following the release of the initial ad, the fantasy gaming platform released a series of ads where the 3 Idiots actors and cricketers engage in hilarious banter.

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2024: JioCinema- Sab Yahaan, Aur Kahaan!

The IPL 2024 advertisement titled "TATA IPL 2024 on JioCinema MS Dhoni Sab Yahaan, Aur Kahaan!" is a special promotional campaign for the Indian Premier League in 2024. This advertisement features MS Dhoni, a legendary cricket player and former captain of the Indian national team, and highlights the convenience and accessibility of watching the IPL on JioCinema.

The IPL 2024 advertisement is special because it features a well-known and beloved cricket star, MS Dhoni, who has a massive fan base in India and beyond. The advertisement's use of Dhoni as the central figure adds to its appeal, making it more engaging and memorable for viewers. Additionally, the ad emphasizes the ease of watching the IPL on JioCinema, highlighting the platform's features and benefits, such as high-quality streaming, accessibility, and convenience.

2024: Dream11: Iss Tournament Mein, #TeamSeBadaKuchNahi

Dream11 surely knows how to make the most of the IPL advertising strategy. Its 2024 ad for IPL promotions made a big splash by bringing together cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, who shared playful banter, teasing each other about the season’s rivalry. Bollywood celebrities, including Daler Mehndi, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Preity Zinta, also joined the fun, adding star power to the campaign. The light-hearted and star-studded ad captured the excitement of the IPL while promoting Dream11's fantasy sports platform in a fun and engaging way, making it one of the most memorable IPL ads of 2024.

FAQs

What are the best IPL advertisements made for IPL since 2008?

Here are the top picks of the best IPL advertisements made for IPL since 2008 -

• 2008: DLF— Manoranjan Ka Baap
• 2009: Vodafone— ZooZoo
• 2009: Sony Max— The Home of IPL
• 2013: Pepsi— Oh Yes Abhi!
• 2014: Pepsi— Kanna Keep Calm
• 2018: Swiggy— No Order Too Small
• 2019: Star Sports— Game Banayega Name
• 2020: Facebook— More Together
• 2021: Disney+Hotstar— #IndiaKiVibeAlagHai
• 2022: CRED— Play It Different
• 2023: Dream11— #SabKhelenge

Which are the best IPL creative ads?

The best IPL creative ads are the IPL 2010 "Saare Jahan Se Acha" advertisement, the IPL 2012 "DLF IPL 2012 MAX Campaign Mauka Stadium HD" advertisement, the IPL 2016 "IPL 2016 Promo Song 'Pistah'" advertisement, and the IPL 2017 "Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan - bringing people together through cricket" advertisement.

Which are the most viewed IPL social media campaigns?

The most viewed IPL social media campaigns are the IPL 2010 "Saare Jahan Se Acha" advertisement, the IPL 2016 "IPL 2016 Promo Song 'Pistah'" advertisement, and the IPL 2017 "Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan - bringing people together through cricket" advertisement.