Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan stole the spotlight at the IPL 2025 opening ceremony, thrilling a packed Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League began with a grand spectacle, and SRKβs presence sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner took center stage, greeting fans and expressing his excitement about the new season.
“As today the IPL turns 18, it comes away not as a league but as a movement, a celebration of sports, a festival of passion, a battleground where heroes are made. We are in the city of joy, Kolkata,” he declared, igniting deafening cheers from the audience.
A Star-Studded Spectacle
The ceremony featured dazzling performances from Bollywood icons. Shreya Ghoshal mesmerized fans with her soulful voice, singing hits like Mera Dholna and Kar Har Maidan Fateh, before delivering a stirring rendition of Vande Mataram.
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Punjabi sensation Karan Aujla energized the stadium with his chartbusters, while Disha Patani set the stage on fire with her electrifying dance moves.
KKR vs. RCB: The Battle Begins
Following the star-studded ceremony, KKR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squared off in the tournamentβs opening match.
On the eve of the game, Shah Rukh Khan visited the KKR dressing room, personally greeting each player and offering words of encouragement.
The highly anticipated match featured a leadership shake-up for both teams, with Ajinkya Rahane captaining KKR and Rajat Patidar leading RCB. RCB aimed to break their four-match losing streak against KKR, with spin expected to play a crucial role in the contest.
KKRβs bowling attack boasted experienced spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, supported by Moeen Ali and Anukul Roy. Meanwhile, RCBβs spin lineup featured Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and young talent Suyash Sharma, a former KKR player.
Both teams brought explosive batting lineups to the tournament. RCBβs firepower included Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, and Jitesh Sharma. KKRβs batting order featured Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Venkatesh Iyer, promising an intense battle on the field.
The stage is set, the stars have aligned, and IPL 2025 has officially begun in spectacular fashion.