Every IPL season, millions of us tuned in for the matches, the team rivalries, the edge-of-the-seat finishes. But somewhere between overs, something unexpected happened: we stayed back for the ads. Not out of habit, but out of sheer excitement.
Before we even knew what ‘skip ad’ meant, we already knew the ad jingle lyrics. Not the team anthems, not the commentary lines, but the ads. These ads made us hum and turned living rooms into mini dance floors for 30 seconds straight. Because IPL wasn’t just about who won the match; it slowly became about which ad won the night.
There was a time when ‘Vodafone ZooZoos’ weren’t just characters, but personalities we quoted, copied, and weirdly related to. And then came the jingles that took over our bodies. “Dil jumping jhapang jhapaang…” and suddenly, you were off the bed, channeling your inner Farah Khan without a second thought.
“Ooh la la la la le yo…” no context, no logic, just pure serotonin. The kind of tune that made an entire room pause mid-conversation and go, “Wait, I love this one.”
You didn’t realise you had memorised them until years later, you caught yourself humming them, smiling for no reason. That’s the thing about IPL ads; they didn’t behave like ads. They behaved like memories in the making.
These ads created the moment where the room stayed, nobody switched channels, nobody looked away. Cricket brought the country together every summer, but it was these ad breaks that made us stay glued to the screen, laughing, singing, reacting together.
And now, as the IPL returns for its 19th edition on March 28, 2026, another ad will play, another jingle will stick, another memory will be made.
So, here are the IPL ads that didn’t just sell products; they gave us jingles, moments, and a little piece of shared madness we still carry.
1. IPL 6 Theme Song
There are ads you remember and then there are ads your body remembers. This one didn’t just play during the Indian Premier League, it took over the room. The moment Farah Khan appeared, whistle in hand, you knew something chaotic (and iconic) was coming and then “Dil jumping jhapang jhapaang jumpak jumpak” hit, and suddenly no one was sitting still. IPL turned from a viewing experience into a full-blown performance, with fans copying steps, jumping off sofas, and dancing through wickets and sixes like it was all choreographed.
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2. Malinga’s ‘Slinga’ By Pepsi
This Pepsi ad sold a Bowling action . Built around Lasith Malinga’s iconic sling-shot action, ‘Malinga’s Slinga’ didn’t just celebrate cricket, it turned his quirk into pop culture. Instead of explaining the madness of his bowling, the film leaned into it, making the absurdity the punchline. Low, fast, and unforgettable, his action became a vibe proving that sometimes, all you need is one unique trait to change the game and stay in people’s heads long after the match ends.
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3. Kingfisher
This Kingfisher IPL campaign flipped rivalry on its head with one simple thought: “Divided by teams, united by good times.” Players from different teams came together, the tension disappeared, and what remained was pure, feel-good energy just like those match nights where arguments and laughter go hand in hand. But what truly made this ad unforgettable was the jingle “Ooh la la la la leo…” catchy, carefree, and impossible to sit still to. It didn’t need meaning, it just needed a beat, and suddenly everyone was humming along, smiling for no reason. It turned those in-between overs into moments you actually waited for, proving that sometimes, it’s not the match or the message it’s the vibe that wins.
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4. Vodafone’s ZooZoos
When Vodafone dropped the ZooZoos during IPL, they created a phenomenon which outdid any campaign. These weird, white, big-headed characters didn’t speak properly, didn’t make much sense, and yet somehow communicated everything perfectly. No heavy dialogues, no celebrities, just pure visual chaos and innocent humor packed into 15–20 seconds. And that’s exactly why they worked. Designed for IPL’s fast-paced ad breaks, each film told one simple story, one clear idea, and left you wanting more.
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5. “Manoranjan Ka Baap” By DLF Indian Premier League
Some ads don’t reveal everything and that’s exactly why you can’t stop watching them. This campaign played the long game, building intrigue around one question: Who is the “baap” of entertainment? Filled with quirky, larger-than-life characters, the film felt chaotic, fun, and slightly mysterious like something big was about to be revealed, but not just yet. And that was the genius.
Instead of giving you answers, it gave you curiosity. It turned an IPL promo into a guessing game, making viewers talk, speculate, and wait for what’s coming next. In a space where ads fight for attention, this one slowed things down just enough to pull you in proving that sometimes, the most powerful hook isn’t noise, it’s mystery.
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6. India Ki Vibe Alag Hai | Vivo IPL 2021
This Disney+ Hotstar anthem for the Indian Premier League didn’t rely on one face or one story; it brought together eight cities, eight languages, and one shared madness. This IPL ad captures India. Built on Nucleya’s electrifying beat, ‘India Ki Vibe Alag Hai’ wasn’t just a song, it was a feeling of pride, chaos, rivalry, celebration all rolled into one high-energy vibe.
What made it hit differently was how personal it felt. Every city had its own swagger, its own hook step, its own way of celebrating and yet, somehow, it all blended into one collective rhythm. You weren’t just watching IPL anymore, you were part of a larger vibe. And that line “India ki vibe alag hai”; it just stuck
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7. Jio Dhan Dhana Dan
Jio’s ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan’ turned the Indian Premier League into one big dance floor, with Deepika Padukone at the center of it all. What made it stand out was how effortlessly she slipped into every team’s vibe matching their energy, their style, their spirit. One moment she was celebrating with one side, the next she was grooving with their rivals, like the entire league existed in one seamless rhythm. And tying it all together was that insanely catchy hook “ Jio Dhan dhana dhan”, the kind that didn’t just stay in your head, it made your body move. It wasn’t about competition here, it was about celebration of teams, fans, and the madness that IPL brings.
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