When Lauren Bell signed up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), few could have predicted just how dramatically her life would change — both on and off the field. The England pacer not only lifted her second WPL trophy with RCB but also witnessed an unprecedented surge in her global fan following, turning her into one of the most talked-about cricketers of the season.
Bell’s journey with the Bengaluru franchise has been nothing short of transformational. The moment she donned the red and gold jersey, her popularity began soaring, fueled by the passionate and loyal RCB fanbase that has long been known for embracing its stars wholeheartedly.
Lauren Bell reacts to viral fame after RCB heroics
Speaking on the Wisden Women’s Cricket Weekly podcast, Bell admitted she is still trying to process the overwhelming growth in her social media presence.
She began the year with around 800,000 followers on Instagram. Within just the first week of the WPL, she crossed the one-million mark. Today, her follower count stands at an astonishing 2.3 million.
“I remember when I first got out there and I got to a million in the first week, I was like ‘how are one million people following me on Instagram?’ It’s crazy,” Bell said.
Despite the meteoric rise, she insists her approach to social media hasn’t changed.
“I still post like I’ve got 10 of my friends on it. I guess that’s part of it and why people follow me,” she said with a laugh.
Bell is now the third most-followed English cricketer on Instagram, trailing only Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Remarkably, she has surpassed the combined follower count of Joe Root and Jofra Archer — a statistic that underlines the scale of her surge.
The new fan favourite of RCB
Beyond numbers, Bell has become a cultural phenomenon among RCB supporters. Viral reels featuring her signature smile and dimples have regularly trended across platforms, earning her the unofficial tag of the new crush of the RCB community.
The connection, however, runs deeper than viral moments. Bell credits the franchise’s passionate supporters for making her feel instantly at home.
“They have such passionate fans and I felt really supported. I don’t think about it too much, but I do find it crazy that I’ve got two million people following what I’m up to,” added Bell.
Backing the buzz with on-field brilliance
While social media fame grabbed headlines, Bell ensured her cricket did the talking. She played a crucial role in RCB’s title-winning campaign, finishing the tournament with 12 wickets. What stood out even more was her exceptional control — she maintained an economy rate of 5.52, the best among all bowlers in the competition.
In the final against the Delhi Capitals, Bell delivered a disciplined four-over spell, conceding just 19 runs. RCB captain Smriti Mandhana later described her performance as match-winning, highlighting the trust the team placed in her during high-pressure moments.
Also SEE: 7 most stunning pics of Southern Brave’s star Lauren Bell – The Hundred
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
