Why I Still Stand With SRH: A Telugu Fan’s Thoughts on Loyalty, Identity, and IPL Fandom


Every IPL season, I notice something that genuinely makes me think.

Why do so many Telugu cricket fans passionately support teams like Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, or Chennai Super Kings — but hesitate to stand with Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Before anyone misunderstands me, this is not an attack on any fanbase. Everyone has the freedom to support whoever they love. Cricket fandom is emotional and personal. Some people grew up admiring Virat Kohli, some worship Rohit Sharma, and many were inspired by MS Dhoni.

I understand that.

But as someone who supports SRH through every season, every heartbreak, every playoff exit, and every comeback, I still ask myself one question:

Why don’t more Telugu fans stand behind the one IPL team connected to our region?

Look at other states.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai Indians have strong local support.
In Tamil Nadu, CSK is more than a team — it is an emotion.
In Karnataka, RCB fans proudly stand by their team despite years of heartbreak.

Yet in Telugu states, many fans support MI for Rohit Sharma, RCB for Kohli, or CSK for Dhoni.

Again — there is nothing wrong with admiring legends.
But sometimes, it feels like we became fans of players first and teams later.

And maybe that is where SRH feels different.

SRH has never been a one-player franchise.

We did not have one superstar face for 15 years like Kohli at RCB or Dhoni at CSK.

SRH has always felt like a team-first franchise.

Different captains. Different match winners. Different eras.

Some years we dominated with bowling. Some years we scared teams with explosive batting.

Yet the orange jersey remained.

And let us be honest — SRH is not some unsuccessful team with no history.

We won the IPL title in 2016.

We reached the finals in 2018 and again in 2024.

We have reached the playoffs multiple times.

We created records, including some of the highest team totals in IPL history.

We even scored a record-breaking 287 — against RCB itself.

This franchise has history. This franchise has moments.
So when Telugu fans troll SRH after one bad match or celebrate their defeat more than rival fans, it honestly feels disappointing.

Some people even say:

“SRH is not Telugu. The owners are not Telugu.”
But I never understood this argument.
Do Bengaluru fans support RCB because of ownership?
Do Delhi fans stop supporting Delhi Capitals because GMR has Telugu roots?
Do Kolkata fans support KKR because Shah Rukh Khan belongs to Kolkata?

IPL fandom has never been about ownership.

It is about connection.

It is about representation.

It is about feeling that this team somehow belongs to your city, your culture, your memories.

Just like Indians naturally feel proud supporting Team India, I feel regional teams also deserve regional support.

No one is forced to support SRH.

Support whoever makes you happy.

Love Kohli. Respect Rohit. Admire Dhoni.
That is completely fine.

But for Telugu people, whether from Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, SRH is the one franchise carrying our region into the IPL.

And maybe — just maybe — we should stand with it a little more.

Because support should not exist only when a team wins.

Real support stays after eliminations.
Real support survives bad seasons.
Real support remains even when trophies do not.
That is why I support SRH.
Not because of one player.
Not because of trends.
Not because we win every season.
But because support, to me, means staying.
Orange Army. Win or lose.

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