The IPL 2025 season kicked off in true Bollywood style at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with an unforgettable opening ceremony featuring the legendary Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli. The star-studded night turned into a fan-favorite moment as SRK and Kohli danced together, creating one of the most viral highlights of the evening.
Key Highlights:
SRK Calls Kohli the ‘GOAT’ of IPL
While hosting the event, Shah Rukh Khan praised Kohli’s loyalty and contribution to IPL, saying:
“Virat bhai is the only player who has been associated with just one team in the entirety of the IPL. He is the OG. The GOAT of IPL.”
King Khan 🤝 King Kohli
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
When two kings meet, the stage is bound to be set on fire 😍#TATAIPL 2025 opening ceremony graced with Bollywood and Cricket Royalty 🔥#KKRvRCB | @iamsrk | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/9rQqWhlrmM
He then invited Kohli to the stage with roaring applause:
“The king of 22 yards and a billion hearts. Let’s hear the loudest for the one and only GOAT, Mr. Virat Kohli.”
The crowd erupted in ‘Kohli Kohli’ chants, which even SRK joined, showing his admiration for the former RCB captain.
SRK and Kohli Dance to ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’
In a moment that delighted fans, Kohli and SRK danced together to ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’, sending social media into a frenzy. Videos of the duo dancing quickly flooded the internet, with fans calling it an iconic crossover of cricket and cinema.
Before Kohli’s entry, Rinku Singh of KKR also shared the stage with SRK, dancing to ‘Lutt Putt Gaya’ from SRK’s film Dunki. The playful performance left Kohli laughing from the audience.
SRK’s Charm Lights Up Eden Gardens
Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of KKR, charmed the Eden Gardens crowd with his iconic dialogue from Pathaan:
“Party Pathaan ke ghar pe rakhoge toh mehmaan nawazi ke liye Pathaan khud aayega aur patake bhi layega.”
The energy at Eden Gardens was unmatched, with fans cheering for their favorite stars and teams.
Star Performers Add Bollywood Spark
The opening ceremony also featured stunning performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani, making it a night to remember before the cricket action began.
IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Opening Match Lineup
After the grand opening, the tournament began with a thrilling match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
RCB Playing XI:
Virat Kohli, Philip Salt (w), Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Impact Subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinandan Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh
KKR Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Subs: Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia
From King Khan’s magnetic presence to Kohli’s dance moves, the IPL 2025 opening ceremony was a perfect blend of entertainment and emotion. It reminded fans why IPL is more than just cricket—it’s a celebration of sports and stardom.
The Hindustan Herald Is Your Source For The Latest In Business, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, And LinkedIn To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Don’t Forget To Subscribe Our Telegram Channel @hindustanherald
