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Who is Kavya Maran? Businesswoman under fire for picking Pakistani player
Who is Kavya Maran? Sunrisers co-owner under fire for buying Pakistani player Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred in England
Who is Kavya Maran? Sunrisers co-owner under fire for buying Pakistani player Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred in England
Kavya Maran is part of a prominent Indian business family and has been closely associated with the Sunrisers teams for several years
Published on: Mar 13, 2026 8:18 PM IST By Shivya Kanojia Share via Copy link Indian businesswoman and cricket franchise executive Kavya Maran has found herself at the centre of an online storm after her team’s decision at the men’s player auction of The Hundred. Born on August 6, 1992, in Chennai, Kavya studied Commerce degree from Stella Maris College and MBA from Warwick Business School. (REUTERS) The controversy began when the Sunrisers franchise secured the services of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for $255,000, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be signed by an Indian-owned team in the tournament. Soon after the pick, criticism erupted across social media platforms, with many Indian fans questioning the decision and accusing the franchise of ignoring “national sentiment”. Also read | Explained: Why Sunrisers Leeds' purchase of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has created controversy The backlash has largely been directed at Kavya Maran, who was present at the auction table alongside head coach Daniel Vettori when the bid was made. She is one of the most visible faces associated with the Sunrisers group and frequently appears during matches involving Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, as reported by Hindustan Times earlier.A controversial auction decision
The signing of Abrar Ahmed was notable for more than just the price tag. It marked the first time a Pakistan player has been picked by an Indian-owned team in The Hundred. The decision came amid intense speculation before the auction about whether Indian-owned franchises would avoid Pakistan players due to a reported “shadow ban”. When the Sunrisers group went ahead with the bid, criticism quickly surfaced online. Fans flooded the franchise’s social media handles with negative comments, and Maran herself became a target of abuse. Also read| All you need to know about Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Another unusual development followed soon after: the X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended in the hours after the purchase of the Pakistan spinner.Who is Kavya Maran?
Kavya Maran comes from a prominent Indian business family and has been closely associated with the Sunrisers cricket franchise for several years. Born on August 6, 1992, in Chennai, she completed a Commerce degree from Stella Maris College and later pursued an MBA from Warwick Business School. She became the CEO of the Sunrisers franchise in 2018 and has since played a key role in overseeing the team’s cricket operations. Her family runs a major media and business network. Her father, Kalanithi Maran, chairs the Sun Group and is also a co-owner of the franchise, while her mother, Kavery Maran, serves as the CEO of Solar TV Community Restricted. Apart from owning Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, the group also controls Sunrisers Eastern Cape, a team that competes in SA20, South Africa’s T20 league. As debate around the recent auction pick intensified, criticism on social media grew louder. Platforms linked to the Sunrisers franchise were flooded with hostile reactions, and Maran being the most recognisable face of the franchise became the main target of the online backlash. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shivya Kanojia Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More Abrar Ahmed Indian Premier League Controversy Check India news real-time updates, latest news from India, latest at HindustanTime News / India News / Who Is Kavya Maran? Sunrisers Co-owner Under Fire For Buying Pakistani Player Abrar Ahmed For The Hundred In England See LessIndian businesswoman and cricket franchise executive Kavya Maran has found herself at the centre of an online storm after her team’s decision at the men’s player auction of The Hundred.
The controversy began when the Sunrisers franchise secured the services of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for $255,000, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be signed by an Indian-owned team in the tournament.
Soon after the pick, criticism erupted across social media platforms, with many Indian fans questioning the decision and accusing the franchise of ignoring “national sentiment”.
Also read | Explained: Why Sunrisers Leeds' purchase of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has created controversy
The backlash has largely been directed at Kavya Maran, who was present at the auction table alongside head coach Daniel Vettori when the bid was made. She is one of the most visible faces associated with the Sunrisers group and frequently appears during matches involving Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, as reported by Hindustan Times earlier.
The decision came amid intense speculation before the auction about whether Indian-owned franchises would avoid Pakistan players due to a reported “shadow ban”.
When the Sunrisers group went ahead with the bid, criticism quickly surfaced online. Fans flooded the franchise’s social media handles with negative comments, and Maran herself became a target of abuse.
Also read| All you need to know about Sunrisers Hyderabad owner
Another unusual development followed soon after: the X account of Sunrisers Leeds was suspended in the hours after the purchase of the Pakistan spinner.
Born on August 6, 1992, in Chennai, she completed a Commerce degree from Stella Maris College and later pursued an MBA from Warwick Business School. She became the CEO of the Sunrisers franchise in 2018 and has since played a key role in overseeing the team’s cricket operations.
Her family runs a major media and business network. Her father, Kalanithi Maran, chairs the Sun Group and is also a co-owner of the franchise, while her mother, Kavery Maran, serves as the CEO of Solar TV Community Restricted.
Apart from owning Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, the group also controls Sunrisers Eastern Cape, a team that competes in SA20, South Africa’s T20 league.
As debate around the recent auction pick intensified, criticism on social media grew louder. Platforms linked to the Sunrisers franchise were flooded with hostile reactions, and Maran being the most recognisable face of the franchise became the main target of the online backlash.
Source: HindustanTimes
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