5 foreign players who became fan favorites in India because of the IPL

It is a well-known fact that India is a cricket crazy nation and the game is more than a religion here. Ever since the inception of the IPL in 2008, the game has come closer to the fans in the and cricketers here are now superstars.

IPL, which has been one of the biggest revolutions in the cricket world, has always been blamed for the negative effects it has on the game, especially on international cricket. It may be correct that it has many negative effects but one of the positive effects of the IPL has been that it has brought foreign players closer to the fans. Love and support that they have gained here have left them emotionally attached to the country and some of them have gone on to call India as their second home.

Here are a few players who are fan favorites in India during the IPL season.

#5 Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell first came to the limelight in the 2014 edition of the league after he surprised everyone with his power-hitting batting. In the season, Maxwell hammered 552 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 187.75.

He came close to scoring a century on two occasions but missed it both times. He played a brilliant knock of 95 of just 43 balls against the Chennai Super Kings in Kings XI Punjab's opening match and scored 90 of 38 balls against the same opposition later in the season.

With such an effort with the bat, Maxwell quickly shot to fame and built a huge fan base in India. Not only is he loved by Kings XI Punjab fans, but is also adored by fans from all over the country.

#4 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum, the hard-hitting batsman from New Zealand, who was not so famous in India came to the limelight on the opening night of the IPL itself when he hammered 158 runs off just 73 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of the first season in 2008.

McCullum has played for multiple teams in the IPL across seasons and can be seen being cheered even by the opposition crowd for his batting and fielding. His energy on the field is commendable, to say the least.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo, the fun-loving all-rounder from West Indies has been one of the biggest crowd entertainers in the cricket world. He engages his fans in the game not only with his cricketing skills but his humorous behavior and celebrations on the field which are a delight to watch for any cricket fan.

Bravo can be seen dancing now and then, enjoying every moment of the game, however small or big it may be. He made the cricket fraternity dance together to the tunes of 'Champion' when he released the song ahead of the T20 World Cup in 2016. Bravo has always loved being in India, due to the love and support of the fans he gets here.

#2 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers, the South African hard-hitting batsman, is one of the most loved foreign cricketers in India. De Villiers has always attracted fans in the country with his 360-degree style of batting. The crowd in the stadium can be heard cheering for the batsman even when he is playing an international game for South Africa against India.

AB has always remained close to fans ever since he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore and is now emotionally attached to them. The South African has himself called Bangalore as his second home on multiple occasions, due to the crowd support he gets while playing at the Chinnaswamy.

#1 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle, the flamboyant batsman from the West Indies, who is the best T20 batsman in the world, is the most loved foreign cricketer in India. Apart from his batting, the batsman has won millions of hearts for his amazing celebrations on and off the field.

The 'Universe Boss' who remained unsold in the 2011 IPL auction, fortunately found his way into the league as an injury replacement in the Bangalore team. Since then, not only has Gayle scored tons of runs for the franchise but has made millions of fans in the country with his devastating batting style.

Gayle remained unsold in the first round of the auctions this year, which left the fans dejected, but thankfully, the Kings XI Punjab bought him at the end of the second day and filled the void that would have never been complete without his presence.