The opening ceremony of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a spectacular event, bringing together the worlds of Bollywood and cricket, with Shah Rukh Khan playing the perfect host.
The audience in Kolkata was treated to a memorable evening of entertainment, thanks to SRK's amazing hosting skills, which added a special touch to the ceremony.
The highlight of the event was when Shah Rukh Khan, in his signature style, called former RCB captain Virat Kohli the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) and even joined him on stage for a dance on his blockbuster song 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan'.
The crowd at Eden Gardens erupted with loud "Kohli Kohli" chants, which SRK joined in on, further elevating the excitement.
"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," SRK said before inviting Kohli on stage.
"The king of 22 yards and a billion hearts. Let's hear the loudest for the one and only the GOAT, Mr. Virat Kohli," he added, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The audience went wild as 'King Kohli' and 'King Khan' danced together, with fans immediately sharing videos of the performance on social media.
Before Kohli's appearance, SRK had already set the stage on fire with KKR's Rinku Singh, who joined him for a fun dance on SRK's popular track 'Lutt Putt Gaya' from his film 'Dunki'. Rinku’s moves had Kohli in splits, making for a funny yet unforgettable moment.
SRK’s charisma was unmatched as he spoke to the crowd, saying, "Party Pathan ke ghar pe rakhoge toh mehman nawazi ke liye Pathan khud aayega aur patake bhi layega," sending the crowd into a frenzy("If you host a party at Pathan's house, Pathan himself will come to greet you and will bring fireworks as well!")
The Bollywood magic continued with performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani, adding their star power to the IPL’s opening night.
After the star-studded ceremony, the players of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) entered the stadium to kick off the opening match of the IPL tournament.
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