After a four-year hiatus, the Indian Premier League (IPL) opening ceremony is making a comeback on March 31, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the ceremony will take place ahead of the opening match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings.
The IPL 2023 opening ceremony is set to feature several Bollywood A-listers, as BCCI aims to create a grand spectacle to welcome back the home crowd. While no artist has been confirmed yet, popular Bollywood singers like Arijit Singh have been approached for a live performance.
IPL 2023 Opening Ceremony
It should be noted that the previous three IPL seasons did not have an opening ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, with the situation improving and life returning to normalcy, BCCI has decided to revive the glitz and glamour of the IPL opening ceremony.
Apart from the opening ceremony, IPL 2023 is also set to return to the home-and-away format after a three-year gap. The tournament will feature 10 teams, and instead of all teams playing in a home-and-away format against nine other teams, there will be two pools.
Group A includes Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. Group B includes Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Titans.
Each team will play seven home games and seven away games in the league stage. They will face the other four teams in the same group twice and compete against the other five teams once each. A total of 70 league-stage matches will be played across 12 venues over the course of 52 days.
The defending champions Gujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings on March 31, and the IPL 2023 final is scheduled to take place on May 28. The venue and the IPL Playoff schedule will be announced at a later date.
The IPL 2023 opening ceremony promises to be a grand spectacle that will welcome back the home crowd with glitz and glamour. With several Bollywood A-listers expected to perform, fans can expect an unforgettable evening of entertainment!
Read more: IPL 2023 Schedule Revealed: Date, Time, Fixtures, Teams, Venues and Other Key Details
