Best IPL ads: Watch the best of IPL promo videos released till date

Although known as the gentleman’s game, cricket is also the social athlete’s mode of entertainment. The idea of the much-hyped IPL is more than just watching a game of cricket for the love of the game; it’s an excellent way for the fans to let their hair down and have a good time at the end of the day.

The ad campaigns, therefore, are a very important part of this huge tournament where truckloads of money are invested to make the audience believe that these 50 days of the year are the craziest and liveliest ones. Here, we look back at the best of the IPL ads:

1. Manoranjan ka Baap

This ad is exactly what happens when you mix Bollywood with cricket. And the result? Entertainment, or ‘manoranjan’ in Hindi.

When the IPL started in 2008, the organizers knew that they would have to put in a lot of drama apart from cricket for a three-hour extravaganza. It had to break all the regular features we see in the theatres. The Manoranjan campaign thus became synonymous with the IPL and the audience doesn’t seem to have got over it even after all these years.

2. Vodafone Star of the Match

Vodafone sure does know how to load up on the cute factor to win people’s hearts. Initially there was the pug, and then came the egg-headed, toothy-smiled, pear-shaped, gibberish-speaking ‘zoo-zoo’ that made everyone go “Awwww”.

After all, every Man of the Match would love being escorted by these ‘zoo-zoos’, playing the IPL jingle on their trumpet for the added effect.

3. Dil Jhumping Jhapak

The ad was all about an over-enthusiastic Farah Khan, visiting random people and asking them to dance to every four or six. This might have been a good way to motivate people to indulge in some physical exercise.

People concerned about their health were more than happy with the ad, but others might have been slightly annoyed at the jingle not leaving their unconscious minds.

4. Come On, Bulava Aya Hai

As seems evident, this IPL ad definitely calls for some action. The campaign focuses on how one can use overstated humour to build up the hype for the IPL.

What we see here is a politician being ready to postpone his hunger strike and the “talks” that will follow eventually just because he has to watch the match. Exaggeration much?

5. Kingfisher IPL Beatbox

This was one of the fun ads where the tagline completely became one with the occassion – divided by teams, united by the king of good times.

All our favourite players beatboxing to the catchy Kingfisher theme music brought out the entertainment and easy-going nature of the T20 life. The music is definitely the hero in this, especially when combined with cricket.

6. Ek Desh Ek Junoon

This ad was made especially to awaken people's love for the nation. It goes on to show how everyone across the country should get together to do the same thing – tune into their television sets and watch the IPL matches every evening.

This ad was clever because it almost made the IPL sound like a thread that binds us all.

7. Saare Jahaan Se Acha

A giant red carpet rolls down the snowy peaks of the mighty Himalayas, coming straight down to the Mumbai flyovers, cutting through deserts. This was apparently the epitome of patriotism, with the usual affinity towards drama.

Such was the IPL ad campaign of 2010 when the tournament was brought back to Indian soil from South Africa.

8. Bharat Bandh

The people at Sony know exactly what notes to strike when it comes to Indians. A little bit of politics, a big dollop of drama and a pinch of cricket: all stirred well to get a best-selling cocktail.

Indians swear by the word ‘Bandh’. Therefore, declaring a Bharat Bandh on IPL days only seems fit to keep people glued to their cushy couches.

9. Kanna, Keep Calm

For all those cricket and entertainment enthusiasts, the message was very clear through this commercial – ‘Keep calm’ and watch IPL. If life has a way to make you suffer every day, IPL will surely help you get over the misery and trauma in a matter of less than 3 hours.

So why would you want to live a sad life when there’s so much excitement around you?

10. Virgin Mobile IPL Ads

This set of ads is as raw as it can get. We are all pretty well versed with the fact that our dear cricketers love using cuss words during the match, and likewise, we can’t leave any opportunity either to prove our team is better than the other.

But Virgin Mobile took the abuses and the name-calling a notch too high, and these ads had to be banned for obvious reasons. You can see them for yourself and decide whether you like them or not.

11. India ka Tyohaar, IPL 2015

We Indians take our love for festivals very seriously. And what better way to catch the attention of the audience than to declare the IPL a ceremony, albeit a festive one?

Sony again does a brilliant job with this ad campaign, showing its viewers that when it comes to the IPL, all racial and caste boundaries are wiped off and people enjoy it with equal gusto, like they would at Eid or Diwali.

12. Fun Fans Fantastic

This IPL 2016 promo ad is a vibrant display of celebration and enthusiasm, along with a pinch of drama added to it. The use of pomp and show in this commercial was absolutely perfect to kick off the 9th edition of this 50-day tournament, which seems to have helped a great deal.