During the opening ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan surprised India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli with loud ‘Kohli Kohli’ chants, introducing him as the ‘GOAT’. The Eden Gardens erupted with excitement as SRK and Kohli chatted on stage, with SRK praising Kohli as the only player associated with just one IPL team, calling him the OG and the GOAT of IPL.
The crowd cheered as SRK led ‘Kohli Kohli’ chants, leaving Kohli blushing and thanking the Bollywood star for the warm introduction. The duo even danced to the song ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’, receiving a thunderous applause from the audience. BCCI President Roger Binny presented Kohli with a special ‘IPL 18’ memento, officially declaring the cash-rich league open.
Before the KKR vs. RCB opener, SRK also conversed with Rinku Singh about the fearlessness of young players in their approach. The event featured performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani, with SRK hosting and engaging with Kohli, Rinku, and the captains of KKR and RCB. This season marks the first time KKR and RCB face off in the IPL opener since the inaugural season in 2008.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
