IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: From SRK’s Speech to Spectacular Drone Show – Complete Timeline

Eden Gardens is all set to host a grand opening ceremony for IPL 2025. The City of Joy will come alive with performances by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, singer Shreya Ghoshal, Punjabi sensation Karan Aujla, and actress Disha Patani. Before the big match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), fans can look forward to an exciting entertainment show filled with music, dance, and star power.

The much-awaited start of IPL 2025 might face trouble because of expected rain in Kolkata. Showers are likely, which could dampen the excitement of a packed crowd at the famous Eden Gardens.

Rain affected the practice sessions for KKR and RCB before the opening match. KKR’s intra-squad matches over the past few days have also been disrupted due to the weather.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata has issued an orange alert for some areas of West Bengal from March 20 to March 22. “Thunderstorm activity over the districts of West Bengal from 20th to 22nd March 2025. Due to the presence of favourable wind patterns & strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels, Thunderstorms with lightning and strong gusty surface winds are very likely to occur in some districts of West Bengal during 20-22 March 2025,” the regional weather forecasting agency said.

IPL 18 Opening Ceremony (OC) schedule:

Pre-Event Setup

• 5:00 PM – 6:05 PM – Bump In (Setup and Preparation)

Main Event

• 6:10 PM – 6:11 PM – IPL Count UP - VT (1 min)
• 6:11 PM – 6:13 PM – Opening Monologue by SRK (2 mins)
• 6:13 PM – 6:13:30 PM – Intro AV - VT - Shreya Ghoshal (30 secs)
• 6:13:30 PM – 6:29:30 PM – ACT 1 – Shreya Ghoshal (16 mins)
• 6:29:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Intro AV - VT - Disha Patani (30 secs)
• 6:30 PM – 6:34 PM – ACT 2 – Disha Patani (4 mins)
• 6:34 PM – 6:34:30 PM – Intro AV - VT - Karan Aujla (30 secs)
• 6:34:30 PM – 6:42:30 PM – ACT 3 – Karan Aujla (8 mins)

Post-Performance Activities

• 6:42:30 PM – 6:44:45 PM – VO + Anamorphic Projection (2 mins 15 secs)
• 6:44:45 PM – 6:52:45 PM – SRK on main stage + monologue + invites cricketers (8 mins)
• 6:52:45 PM – 6:53:15 PM – Chat with cricketers moderated by SRK (30 secs)
• 6:53:15 PM – 6:54:45 PM – SRK invites BCCI officials & celebrities on stage (1 min 30 secs)
• 6:54:45 PM – 6:59:45 PM – 2 Captains enter on Float, SRK’s interaction with Captains, IPL 18 Cake cutting & Balloon Release, Drone Show

Final Moments

• 6:59:45 PM – 7:00:45 PM – Photo op with the trophy + Officials + SRK + two Captains + Celebrities (1 min)
• 7:00:45 PM – 7:05:45 PM – Fireworks (5 mins)
• 7:05:45 PM – 7:07:45 PM – Bump out (7 secs)

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