The IPL 18 opening ceremony was a star-studded affair with music, dance, and performances. Celebrities and cricketers joined hands to celebrate the thrill of the tournament. The following is a minute-by-minute account of the event, from the beginning to the end.

Opening Moments: Generating the Buzz (5:00 PM – 6:05 PM)
The event started at 5:00 PM with a one-minute introduction segment called "Bump In." This was used to set the stage for the exciting performances and speeches that were to come.Star-Studded Performances Begin (6:10 PM – 6:42 PM)
The official commencement of the main event was at 6:10 PM with an IPL countdown video, followed by a grand monologue by Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan (SRK). His monologue established the tone for the evening, culminating in a video introduction of Shreya Ghoshal, India's most popular playback singer.

Shreya Ghoshal's Singing Performance (6:13 PM – 6:29 PM)
Shreya Ghosal performed at 6:13 PM and delivered a mesmerizing 16-minute live show. Her soulful voice had the audience entranced, and it was one of the highlights of the event.

Disha Patani's High Octane Act (6:30 PM – 6:34 PM)
After Shreya Ghoshal, there was a brief video of actress Disha Patani at 6:29 PM. She then took the stage at 6:30 PM with a very energetic dance performance that lasted for 4 minutes, thrilling the crowd with her energetic moves.

Karan Aujla's Power-Packed Performance (6:34 PM – 6:42 PM)
There was a brief video intro of Punjabi singer Karan Aujla at 6:34 PM, followed by him giving an amazing 8-minute live performance. Disha Patani came on stage for the final song, so there was a special duo performance by the two.

Technology Meets Entertainment (6:42 PM – 6:44 PM)

At 6:42 PM, a state-of-the-art Anamorphic Projection was screened on big screens, with voice-over. This almost two-minute presentation amazed the audience with its extraterrestrial visual effects.

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Cricketers Take the Stage (6:44 PM – 6:54 PM)
SRK returned on the main stage at 6:44 PM and gave another monologue, inviting cricketers from other IPL franchises. This was preceded by an interactive session where SRK was having a conversation with the cricketers.

Special Moments with BCCI Officials & Captains (6:53 PM – 6:54 PM)
At 6:53 PM, the podium ushered in BCCI representatives and stars of the film world, bringing the event an element of prestige. The two opening match captains entered soon thereafter in a special float, ushering in another height of enthusiasm.SRK afterwards chatted with the captains regarding the future games and how much they looked forward to the competition.

Grand Finale: Celebration & Fireworks (6:54 PM – 7:07 PM)
The event ended with a cake-cutting ceremony and a balloon release at 6:54 PM.A drone show illuminated the sky with breathtaking visuals. A final photo shoot took place at 6:59 PM, featuring SRK, officials, captains, and other celebrities.
At 7:00 PM punctually, the sky lit up with dazzling fireworks as IPL 18 commenced officially.
The event ended with a 7-minute closing segment ("Bump Out"), with a seamless cut to the start of the much-awaited IPL season.

How the IPL-2025 opening ceremony will pan out tom evening in Kolkata :) #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/cKYfdbiYDp

— IpLT20 (@Nomate321) March 21, 2025