The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to mark its 18th season in spectacular fashion with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rolling out an ambitious plan to host opening ceremonies across all 13 venues hosting matches in 2025.
Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Hyderabad), M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur), Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow), Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (Chandigarh), Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi), Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (Visakhapatnam), Barsapara Cricket Stadium (Guwahati) and HPCA Stadium (Dharamsala) will host the IPL 2025 matches.
This unprecedented move, aimed at celebrating Indian culture, promises to bring a festive vibe to every corner of the country, starting with a blockbuster event at the Eden Gardens on March 22 before the season-opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Unlike previous editions, where a single grand ceremony kicked off the IPL, this year’s approach ensures every venue gets its moment in the spotlight. The initiative reflects the board’s desire to deepen fan engagement nationwide, blending cricket with entertainment on a bigger scale.
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"The celebration will kick off with a grand opening ceremony featuring Bollywood superstars and celebrities from the music industry at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22. The festive fervour will continue throughout the season with each venue kickstarting its first match with a cultural programme featuring prominent artists," a source said as quoted to the Sportstar.
"We wanted to add more flavour to the tournament so that spectators from each and every venue can get a taste of the opening ceremony. For the cultural programmes in each venue, we are planning to create a line-up of national and local artists," he added.
Confirmed Performers and Attendees for IPL 2025 Opening Match
The Eden Gardens ceremony is already generating buzz with confirmed performers Shreya Ghoshal and Disha Patani set to dazzle the crowd. Ghoshal, a renowned playback singer, and Patani, a Bollywood actress known for her dance numbers, will headline the Kolkata event, promising a blend of melody and glamour.
Also read: IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan And Arijit Singh To Dazzle At Season Opener
"The idea is to have a varied pool of Bollywood artists performing for all the programmes, and with limited time in between the innings, two to three artists could be accommodated for these events," the source informed.
Adding to the star-studded affair, ICC Chairman Jay Shah is confirmed to attend the opening match. Reports also suggest that Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of KKR, will be present, cheering from the stands. Megastar Salman Khan is also likely to attend the event to promote his upcoming movie Sikandar.
