IPL 2023 opening ceremony: Rashmika Mandanna, Tamannaah Bhatia and Arijit Singh enthrall the crowd in star-studded event

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) got off to an eventful start at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets during the season opener. But there's more. Before the T20 extravaganza began with the GT vs CSK match, the glitzy opening ceremony featured stellar dance performances by Rashmika Mandanna and Tamannah Bhatia alongside some good Arijit Singh melodies. The singer wowed the crowd with some of his famous songs- 'Kesariya,' 'Channa Mereya' and 'Tujhe Kitna Chaahne Lagey Hum.' Tamannaah followed Arijit's performance with some stunning dance moves to win the crowd. Rashmika was the final performer of the glitzy ceremony with a show-stealing 'Naatu Naatu' spectacle and a 'Saami Saami' number. Post the performances, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya were invited to the stage with Jay Shah and Arun Dhumal. The skippers made their entry with chariot-like carriages, with GT captain Pandya carrying their trophy. The 2023 opening ceremony is also the first to take place in IPL since 2018.