The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 is all set to begin at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 31. The opening match will be played between the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This year, the IPL will return to its original ‘home-and-away’ format after the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to be played in a bio-secure bubble in the UAE. The league will feature 10 teams divided into two groups and will play 70 league fixtures.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering to organise an opening ceremony for the IPL 2023. This would be the first opening ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The BCCI hopes to make the occasion even more glamorous by inviting Bollywood A-list stars to the event. According to reports, actresses Rashmika Mandanna and Tamannaah Bhatia will be performing in the opening ceremony and adding to the glam factor.
The opening ceremony is expected to begin at around 7:30 pm IST on March 31, just before the tournament opener.
“Yes, there will be an opening ceremony on the 31st. It will be a short one but as the home and away format returns, we felt it was necessary to welcome back the home crowd with a ceremony,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying to InsideSport.
The first-ever Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, which took place last month, also featured a glamorous opening ceremony. Bollywood stars Kriti Sanon, Kiara Advani and Punjabi pop sensation AP Dhillon performed at the event.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI decided not to organise an opening ceremony for IPL 2019 in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. The BCCI’s decision to consider an opening ceremony this year shows its determination to make the IPL 2023 a grand event.
During the league stage of the tournament, each team will play 14 matches, with seven games at home and seven away. The teams are divided into two groups, and each team will face the other four teams in the same group twice. They will also play against the other five teams once each. With 70 matches to be played across 12 venues over the course of 52 days, the IPL 2023 promises to be an action-packed and exciting tournament.
