HIGHLIGHTS | IPL 2023 opening ceremony: Tamannaah Bhatia, Rashmika Mandhana & Arijit Singh's performances left audience mesmerised

The 16th edition of the IPL 2023 officially kick-started as the BCCI president Roger Binny and BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah graced the stage alongside Chennai Super Kings captain, MS Dhoni and Gujarat Titans captain, Hardik Pandya. Both captains clicked a picture with the IPL 2023 trophy amidst loud cheer from the crowd. 

Rashmika Madhana danced to her song, 'Sami sami' and 'Srivalli' amidst the roar of the crowd. She also danced to the Oscar-winning song, 'Naatu Naaatu' that ran currents through the feet of people in the stadium, forcing everyone to dance. 

After Arijit Singh's soulful performance, Tamannaah Bhatia's sizzling performance left everyone spellbound in the jam-packed stadium of Ahmedabad. 

Arijit is performing LIVE at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

One of India's most loved singers, Arijit Singh, makes the audience swoon on his songs with his melodious voice. He opened the ceremony with his song 'Ae watan' and hooked the audience with his soothing musical. 

Mandira Bedi, the host of the star-studded opening ceremony opens the show amid electrifying environment and continuous cheers at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

Mumbai Indians has been the most successful team in the Indian Premier League winning a total of five titles.

This time Indian Premier League’s commentary will be available in 12 languages here are the list of commentators. 

English language 

Sunil Gavaskar, Jacques Kallis, Matthew Hayden, Kevin Pietersen, Aaron Finch, Tom Moody, Paul Collingwood, Daniel Vettori, Daniel Morrison, David Husse

Ahead of the IPL 2023 opening ceremony, actress Tamannaah Bhatia revealed that MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are her favorite cricketers. Tamannaah ahead of her performance said on Twitter, “When I watch, I watch like I get very involved and very invested. Dhoni is everyone's favorite and I am no different. And Virat. I think these two are my favorites". Tamannahh said. 

It looks like the opening ceremony and season opener has been blessed with good weather, with the temparute expected to be around 33-27 degrees Celsius.

IPL 2023 will be held in Ahmedabad, Mohali, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, Guwahati and Dharamshala. It will consist of 70 league matches, which will have 18 double headers. Each franchise will play seven home and away fixtures during the campaign. Rajasthan Royals will play their first two home matches in Guwahati and then will play their remaining games in Jaipur. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will play their five home matches in Mohali, and then play their last two home fixtures in Dharamshala.

The 2023 edition of the of the IPL will see an opening ceremony after 2018 as in 2019 it was cancelled in tribute for our martyred soldiers in the Pulwama attack and then from 2020-22 the Covid-19 restrictions kicked in. 

IPL opening ceremonies have always lived up to their electrifying environment with dazzling performance from artists around the world. In the past, we have seen performances from the likes of Salman Khan, Pitbull, Akon, Shah Rukh Khan, Shriya Saran and Katrina Kaif. It remains to be seen whether this season will also replicate such performances and keep the audiences hooked to TV screens. 

Ahead of the opening ceremony, Rashmika said, "So, I have always wanted to go and witness a match, but I never got the opportunity. But today, I am going to be performing in the opening ceremony. So I am like, made it!"

"Generally when I watch a match, I get too anxious. I have my emotions up and down. So I try to just look at the results of it.

"Of course, Dhoni sir and Virat sir. All of our players who are at top-notch", she further added.

In a first, the team is also putting together the first mid-inning drone show. The segment will feature a choreographed dance of 1,500 drones decorating the sky above the stadium, weaving within one another to form stunning 2D & 3D imagery, which the team promises will be a sensory experience that will dazzle audiences.