IPL 18th edition begins with star-studded opening in Kolkata

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for an exciting new chapter as the 18th edition of this thrilling T20 league kicks off on March 22 in Kolkata.

Fans can expect a spectacular start to the season with Bollywood diva Disha Patani set to perform at the opening ceremony, just before the first match featuring Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Acclaimed singer Shreya Ghoshal will also grace the event with a performance at the venue, where ICC chairman Jay Shah is expected to attend.

In a departure from tradition, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ambitious plans to host opening ceremonies at all 13 venues staging IPL matches this year.

This move marks a significant shift from previous seasons.

A wide ensemble of Bollywood celebrities is being lined up to perform across various venues, with stars such as Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Katrina Kaif, Triptii Dimri, Ananya Panday, Madhuri Dixit, and Janhvi Kapoor among those expected to dazzle the audiences throughout the league.

"The plan is to have a diverse range of Bollywood performers featured across all events, with the possibility of including two to three artists in the limited time between innings," a source revealed to Sportstar.

Organizing such a large-scale series of events does bring logistical challenges.

However, the BCCI is collaborating closely with State associations to ensure smooth execution without interrupting the matches, as noted in the report.

Besides the traditional venues of the 10 IPL franchises, a few teams will play some of their matches at alternative locations, including Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Dharamshala, and Mullanpur. These venues will host home games for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings throughout the season, contributing to a diverse and exciting cricketing festival across India.