Cinema, cricket and commerce will combine to make a heady mix when the DLF IPL debuts this evening in Bangalore with SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Vijay Mallya's Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Clash of 'kings': Cheerleaders from the US, Bollywood stars, foot-tapping music and a laser show will herald cricket's richest event this evening. The DLF IPL, with Bangalore Royal Challengers taking on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Friday.
A 45-minute long ceremony would precede some entertainment with foot-tapping music and a laser show to herald cricket's richest event.
Nearly an hour of glitz and glamour show will precede some serious Twenty20 cricket between the teams led by two former India captains, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
One of the highlights of the ceremony would be when all the captains jointly read out a pledge reaffirming the IPL's faith in the spirit of cricket.
Other attractions of the opening ceremony include fireworks, aerial gymnasts and the presence of Shah Rukh Khan and Priety Zinta, co-owners of the Kolkata and Mohali franchises respectively.
Spotlight toss: The Chinnawamy Stadium would be plunged into darkness as Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, skippers of the Bangalore Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, would walk out for the toss. The spotlights would focus on the two skippers
One or two players from the fielding side would be "miked up" to chat with the commentators during the match.
In a bid to attract more fans to the stadium, 12 cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins, the 'First Ladies of American Football' have been flown in.
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