As cricket fever returns with the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League, fans can look forward to a grand start with a star-studded opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday, March 22, at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Before the season opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the stadium will light up with performances from renowned singer Shreya Ghosal, Punjabi artist Karan Aujla, and Bollywood actress Disha Patani.

Grand performances ahead of KKR vs RCB clash

The IPL’s traditional curtain-raiser will kick off at 6 PM IST, with musical and dance performances meant to set the festive tone of the season. Shreya Ghosal’s soulful vocals, Karan Aujla’s energetic Punjabi beats, and Disha Patani’s glam act are expected to be the highlight of the evening.

Rain may dampen ceremony, match in doubt

However, the celebration faces an uncertain forecast. As per latest weather predictions, drizzles are likely between 5 PM and 11 PM IST, raising concerns over potential delays or even cancellation of the opening ceremony and the first match.

How to watch IPL 2025 opening ceremony live

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Date: Saturday, March 22

Time: 6 PM IST

Live telecast: Star Sports Network

Live streaming: JioHotstar app and website

Fans are advised to keep an eye on weather updates and tune in early to not miss the live performances and the toss updates for the KKR vs RCB clash.

In a gesture of faith and philanthropy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his family donated Rs 44 lakh to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Nitya Annadanam scheme on Friday, March 21, 2025. The amount equals the one-day cost of providing free meals to devotees at the hill shrine.

The donation coincided with the birthday of Naidu’s grandson, Nara Devansh. Marking the occasion, the Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife N. Bhavaneswari, son and State IT Minister Nara Lokesh, and daughter-in-law Nara Brahmani, also participated in serving food to devotees visiting the temple.

The family arrived in Tirumala on the night of March 20 and had a darshan of Lord Venkateswara early on Friday morning.

TTD Chairman B R Naidu, Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao, and Additional EO Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary received the Chief Minister at the temple entrance, offering traditional honours before escorting him into the sanctum sanctorum.

Following the visit, the CM was presented with theertha prasadams, the Telugu Viswavasu New Year almanac, a diary, calendar, and other temple-manufactured panchagavya prasadams. The ceremonial welcome also included vedasirvachanams by temple priests.

District Collector Venkateswarlu, Superintendent of Police Harshavardhan Raju, and several TTD board members were also present during the Chief Minister’s visit.

The Nitya Annadanam scheme, which provides daily free meals to thousands of pilgrims, has long been a key part of TTD’s services, and Naidu’s donation underlines his family’s continued devotion to the temple.

As anticipation builds for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, an advertisement featuring three legendary Indian cricket captains — Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma — has gone viral on social media, giving fans a nostalgic and entertaining glimpse into cricket’s past and present.

The video showcases a light-hearted moment where Kapil Dev and Dhoni appear as panelists evaluating talent, only to be surprised by Rohit Sharma’s stylish entrance. In a humorous behind-the-scenes clip, Rohit cheekily asks, “You need a selfie or an autograph?”, prompting laughter and quick apologies, adding charm to the campaign.

The advertisement, which has captured widespread attention online, comes just days before Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) — both five-time IPL champions — clash in what is widely considered the league’s biggest rivalry. The high-stakes match will take place on Sunday at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium.

CSK vs MI: IPL’s biggest rivalry returns

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh likened the CSK vs MI rivalry to the India-Pakistan clash, calling it “high-pressure, high-voltage, and full of fun.” With a long history of close contests and fan fervor, this encounter marks the opening game for both sides in the 2025 IPL season.

MS Dhoni, now in his 18th IPL season, will continue playing for CSK, although the captaincy has shifted to Ruturaj Gaikwad. CSK retained Dhoni as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore under a new IPL rule allowing franchises to keep players who haven’t played international cricket in five years.

Whether this season will be Dhoni’s final IPL appearance remains uncertain, but the speculation continues to grow as he chases a record sixth title with Chennai.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma begins a new chapter at MI, playing under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. He remains in pursuit of a record-extending seventh IPL trophy.

With the ‘El Clasico’ of IPL just around the corner and cricket legends coming together on-screen, the stage is set for another memorable season.