The Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2026 is back with more hype than ever before, once again uniting some of the biggest celebrities from cricket, entertainment, and the corporate world under one banner. In its years of operation, the IPL tournament has grown not only into a sporting event but also into an annual celebration that has captured the imagination of millions of fans across the country and beyond. Star-studded squads, heated rivalries, full stadiums, and unprecedented levels of fan engagement online all make the IPL season 2026 very promising indeed.
While the excitement builds up ahead of the sporting event, there is yet another contest developing away from the cricket pitch. The focus in this case is no longer on cricketers; instead, it is on the women associated with the team owners, namely Ananya Birla and Kavya Maran. Popularly referred to on social media as the ‘IPL daughters,’ the two have become a talking point among fans as discussions around their net worth and influence gather pace.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kavya Maran: The woman behind SRH’s rising IPL legacy
Kavya Maran, the face of Sunrisers Hyderabad, is one of the most recognizable figures in the IPL today. She is the CEO and joint owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad, which is owned by the Sun Group, a leading media group in India. The Sun Group is owned by Kalanithi Maran, who happens to be Kavya’s father.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Stella Maris College, Chennai, and a Master of Business Administration from NYU Stern School of Business, New York. After completion of her higher studies, Kavya came back to Chennai and got into her father’s firm, Sun Group, where she works as the executive director of Sun TV Network Limited. She heads the sporting interests of the group, which comprises three cricket teams: IPL team SunRisers Hyderabad, South Africa T20 League team SunRisers Eastern Cape, and a cricket team in the UK’s The Hundred League.
Maran has established herself as the most prominent face of the franchise, being present for all match days and player auctions. Her presence in the stands, whether celebrating a six, reacting to a wicket, or visibly disappointed after a loss, often goes viral on social media. These candid reactions have helped her build a strong fan following beyond the SRH supporter base.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s new lady luck, Ananya Birla
In 2026, RCB entered a new phase when the franchise was acquired by a consortium headed by the Aditya Birla Group in a record deal that is said to be valued close to Rs 16,700 crore. Ananya Birla has since emerged as one of the most well-known individuals associated with the brand. However, it is not only because of the fact that her brother, Aryaman Vikram Birla, was appointed the chairman following the acquisition, but also because of her presence around the team, which has garnered a great fan following.
Apart from cricket, Ananya Birla is renowned as an entrepreneur, a pop singer, and a philanthropist. Born into the Birla family of industrialists, particularly to businessman Kumar Mangalam Birla, she has carved out her own niche in the business world as well as in music.
Advertisment
She was educated at the American School of Bombay before joining the University of Oxford to pursue economics and management for her undergraduate degree. Her undergraduate degree was conferred on her in 2011. While studying, Birla took up singing and playing the guitar at bars and clubs. She was also involved in composing her songs, which made her internationally famous.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ananya Birla is the founder of Svatantra Microfin, which is a financial institution specializing in financial independence for women. In 2016, she founded and serves as the CEO of Ikai Asai, a luxury online retailing company.
Net worth comparison between Kaya Maran and Ananya Birla
According to current estimates, the personal net worth of Ananya Birla is substantially greater than that of Kavya Maran. The net worth of Ananya Birla ranges from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,770 crore, whereas Kavya Maran’s net worth ranges between Rs 400 crore to Rs 450 crore. Thus, Ananya Birla’s net worth is approximately 2.5 times more than that of Kavya Maran.
This huge difference arises mainly due to their respective career profiles, as Ananya Birla derives her net worth from her independent ventures and investments, music career, and corporate environment, whereas Kavya Maran derives hers from her management position at the Sun Group media and sports companies like Sunrisers Hyderabad.
ADVERTISEMENT
What do you think about these figures? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.
