IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony in photos: The IPL 2025 season kicked off in grand style with a spectacular opening ceremony, featuring Bollywood superstars, top musicians, and cricketing icons. The event, held at the iconic stadium, blended entertainment and nostalgia, celebrating 18 years of the IPL.
Fans were treated to an electrifying night, with Shah Rukh Khan, Virat Kohli, and Rinku Singh stealing the show alongside mesmerizing performances from Shreya Ghosal, Disha Patani, and Karan Aujla. (Photo credit for all photos: JioHotstar/Screengrab)

The ceremony began with Shah Rukh Khan, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner, setting the stage with his signature charm. In a moment that had the crowd roaring, SRK delivered a dramatic monologue before referencing his famous movie Pathan, saying, "Pathan ke ghar party rakhoge to Pathan ayega hi na!" This statement, linking his film dialogue with his KKR ownership, set the perfect tone for the night.

Next, the stage belonged to the melodious Shreya Ghosal, also hailing from Kolkata. She enchanted the audience with Bollywood songs, each dedicated to one of the 10 IPL teams, creating a musical journey through IPL history. Her soulful voice added a touch of nostalgia and pride for fans cheering for their favorite franchises.

Following this, Bollywood actress Disha Patani took the stage for a high-energy dance performance. Her act was vibrant and lively, but interestingly, the telecast was cut short midway for TV and OTT audiences. Speculation suggested that her attire might have been deemed too revealing for live television. Despite this, her performance set the stage ablaze and was one of the most talked-about moments of the night.


Karan Aujla, the Punjabi sensation, brought his signature high-energy beats to the stage. His performance had the crowd on their feet, dancing and singing along to his chartbusters. His act was also the last of the night, and he was joined by Disha Patani for a final dance number, making for a power-packed conclusion to the musical extravaganza.

The evening wasn't just about performances-it was also about cricket's biggest icons. Shah Rukh Khan returned to the stage, engaging in a lively conversation with Virat Kohli, who appeared on the screen. When asked about young stars rising in the IPL, Kohli confidently responded, "The old heroes are still here!" The interaction ended with KKR's Rinku Singh joining SRK on stage, where the duo, along with Kohli, danced to some of SRK's biggest Bollywood hits.


The night then saw BCCI officials and all the performers gathered on stage, followed by the captains of KKR and RCB making a grand entrance with the IPL trophy. As the defending champions, KKR's captain Ajinkya Rahane had the honor of carrying the trophy to the stage.


The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate 18 glorious years of the IPL, followed by the Indian national anthem, bringing a fitting end to a night of cricket, entertainment, and nostalgia.