The Indian Premier League 2025 opened with a bang at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, delivering a night of glitz, glamour, and cricketing fervour that left fans spellbound. Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan set the stage ablaze with his magnetic presence, delivering a rousing speech that had the packed stadium roaring in excitement.

“The King of Bollywood” didn’t stop there—SRK turned up the heat by inviting cricketing stars Rinku Singh and Virat Kohli on stage for an impromptu dance-off. The crowd went wild as Virat and SRK grooved to the beats of Jhoome Jo Pathaan, creating a moment that will be etched in IPL history. The energy peaked when SRK brought together the captains of KKR and RCB, along with top BCCI and IPL officials, for a grand finale that celebrated the spirit of cricket.

Disha Patani and Karan Aujla Set the Stage on Fire
Bollywood’s glamour queen, Disha Patani, turned up the heat with her sizzling dance moves, adding a dash of Bollywood magic to the evening. Her electrifying performance had the crowd on their feet, cheering for more. Not to be outdone, Punjabi sensation Karan Aujla brought his A-game, delivering a high-octane performance that had everyone grooving to his chart-topping hits.

Shreya Ghoshal’s Melodic Magic
The night’s musical highlight came from the enchanting Shreya Ghoshal, who mesmerized the audience with her soulful renditions. She kicked off her performance with Aami Je Tomar from Bhool Bhulaiyaa, leaving fans in awe of her vocal prowess. But the real treat was her tribute to the 10 IPL franchises, dedicating a special song to each team. It was a heartfelt ode to the league’s unity and diversity, making it a truly unforgettable performance.

The Cricketing Action Begins: KKR vs RCB
As the dazzling performances wrapped up, the focus shifted to the real stars of the night—the cricketers. The opening match of IPL 2025 saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locking horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), promising a thrilling start to what’s set to be another action-packed season.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the cost of public property damaged during the recent violence in Nagpur will be recovered from the rioters. He warned that if the perpetrators fail to pay, their assets will be seized, and bulldozers will be used wherever necessary.

“Whatever damage has occurred will be recovered from the rioters. If they do not pay, their property will be sold to cover the costs. Wherever required, bulldozers will also be used,” Fadnavis stated.

The violence erupted in central Nagpur on March 17 following rumours that a “chadar” (cloth) with holy inscriptions was burnt during protests organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The protests were demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The clashes resulted in injuries to several police personnel, including three deputy commissioners of police (DCPs), and extensive damage to vehicles and homes. A 40-year-old man succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment on Saturday.

Fadnavis revealed that 104 individuals have been arrested so far based on CCTV footage, with more arrests expected. “Police action will be taken against those involved in the riots or aiding the rioters. Those spreading rumors on social media will also be made co-accused. So far, 68 social media posts have been identified and deleted,” he said.

The Chief Minister also addressed reports of female constables being molested during the violence, clarifying that such claims were untrue. “Stones were hurled at female police constables, but reports of molestation are false,” Fadnavis stated, according to PTI.

While acknowledging that intelligence gathering could have been better, Fadnavis denied that the incident was an “intelligence failure.” He also dismissed any political angle or foreign involvement in the violence, stating, “No foreign hand or Bangladeshi link has surfaced. There is no political angle to the violence.”

A seemingly casual selfie shared by BJP MP Jay Panda featuring Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on a flight has stirred speculation yet again, prompting an immediate clarification from Tharoor. The BJP leader posted the image with a cheeky caption suggesting that they were “finally travelling in the same direction”, fuelling political chatter online.

“My friend & fellow traveler called me mischievous for saying that we seem to be finally travelling in the same direction,” Panda wrote in a post on X.

In response, Shashi Tharoor quickly clarified that the encounter was coincidental, stating he was en route to attend the Kalinga Literature Festival in Bhubaneswar, and would be returning the very next day

“Fellow traveller only to Bhubaneswar! I am addressing the Kalinga LitFest tomorrow morning. And coming right back,” he posted.

Background: Tharoor’s recent praise for rivals sparked internal row

The selfie follows recent controversies around Tharoor’s remarks praising the Kerala LDF government’s economic handling, which had earlier led to discomfort within the Congress leadership. His comments had drawn criticism from party colleagues, who accused him of projecting a “distorted” political narrative.

Tharoor had later toned down his earlier remarks, particularly after a report surfaced stating that over 42,000 MSMEs had shut down in Kerala in the past nine years.

The situation escalated when Tharoor, during a podcast, said he had “other options” if the Congress no longer needed his service. Though he clarified that he was not referring to political alternatives, it triggered fresh debates about his loyalty within party ranks.

Adding to the mix, a selfie shared with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan—the face of the Congress’s rival LDF—added to the speculation. The Congress central leadership later tried to dispel rumours of a rift by sharing visuals of party unity, including a post by Rahul Gandhi affirming that they “stand as one.”

This latest episode shows Tharoor’s caution in managing public perception amidst ongoing internal scrutiny, as he seeks to maintain balance between his individual outreach and party expectations.