Pitbull, King Khan grooves at IPL T20 Opening Ceremony 2013

Pitbull In IPL T20

The 'City of Joy' opened its heart to the cricket world as a glittering Bollywood-style opening ceremony featuring the likes of international singer Pitbull and Bollywood stars marked the beginning of the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padkone and Katrina Kaif grooving to the desi moves, leaving the healthy turnout at the Salt Lake Stadium enthralled.

It reached a crescendo when the evening's biggest attraction of them all, Pitbull, took to the stage.

Youngsters in the audience crooned with Pitbull belting out hits like Hey Baby, Sexy and I know It and International Love swathed in a black tuxedo and glares.


The much-awaited show started with classical dancers serenading two giant lamps, and dancing in white, gold and red with diyas in hands. As more dancers joined in, Shah Rukh's voice boomed Tagore's "Where the mind is without fear" in the background.

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lit the lamp for the ceremony as Khan, also the co-owner for the Kolkata Knight Riders, team initiated the proceedings by reciting a poem by nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

The 120,000 capacity football stadium transformed into a magical kaleidoscope of Rabindra Sangeet, Bollywood dance, songs and, above all, unfettered enthusiasm as the 2013 leg formally opened with all the nine team captains taking the ICC Spirit of Cricket Pledge, 'Play hard, play fair'.

Deepika Padukone Performing In Ipl T20.

Katrina Kaif In Ipl T20.

Indian singer Usha Uthup and Bollywood music director Bappi Lahiri kept the audiences enthralled with disco tracks Koi Yahan Nache Nache, Hari Om Hari and Rambha Ho.

Flying drummers, Chinese percussionists, fireworks were the some of the other attractions that were on offer for the event.


After that a collection of balloons rose slowly and smoothly into the hot air above to the sound of drums, music and the cheers of people, with a performer carrying the winner's trophy.



The 2013 edition of the IPL will be played from April 3 to May 26.

                                 It will feature nine teams, and a total of 76 matches.

This will be the sixth season of the annual tournament.

Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural season, in 2008. The erstwhile Deccan Chargers won the title in 2009. Chennai Super Kings triumphed in 2010 and 2011, and Kolkata Knight Riders scaled the summit in 2012.