The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for an exciting new season, starting on March 22 with its 18th edition. The opening match will take place in Kolkata, where Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Fans can look forward to a thrilling pre-match show, featuring Bollywood actress Disha Patani and renowned singer Shreya Ghoshal. ICC chairman Jay Shah will also be present at the event.
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host opening ceremonies at all 13 venues where IPL matches will be played. Several Bollywood stars, including Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, and Triptii Dimri, are expected to take part in these grand celebrations.
“The idea is to feature different Bollywood artists across various venues. Since time between innings is limited, two to three artists will perform at each event,” a source told Sportstar.
Organizing such large-scale events at multiple locations presents challenges, but the BCCI and State associations are working together to ensure smooth execution without disrupting the matches.
Along with the traditional stadiums of the 10 IPL teams, additional venues like Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Dharamshala, and Mullanpur will host games for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings. Fans across the country can expect a season filled with entertainment both on and off the field.
