2015 Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 8 Opening Ceremony Tuesday April 07,2015

India's biggest cricket carnival kicks off with a glittery opening ceremony on Tuesday April 07,2015 as several stars from Bollywood line-up for some breathtaking performances to start the Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 8

The two-hour gala featuring Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Pritam and Hrithik Roshan is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Hrithik Roshan, Anushka Sharma and Shahid Kapoor are set to enthrall spectators at the opening ceremony at the Salt Lake Stadium

During the two-hour show, actor-director Farhan Akhtar will belt out songs with his band.

Actor Saif Ali Khan, Indian cricketing legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's son, will host the show and introduce the cricketers and stars

Rain and Thunderstorms could play spoilsport at the opening ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, slated to be held at the Salt Lake stadium on Tuesday, according to the Met Office forecast.

Wednesday's IPL opener between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens here also looks threatened with heavy showers predicted on the day.

  Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirit of 'City of Joy' as a dazzling Bollywood-style opening ceremony kick started the eighth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket after a one and a half hour delay at the decked-up Salt Lake stadium

 

 

 

 

IPL 8 kicked off with a glamorous opening ceremony at Kolkata. The captains of the eight IPL teams present on the occasion signed the spirit of cricket bat to pledge their allegiance to the campaign

The skippers, one after another, trooped on to the stage as their names were called by former Indian skipper Ravi Shastri, who conducted this part of the show before a crowd of around 15,000.

Indian ODI skipper M.S. Dhoni, who leads the three-time winners CSK in the IPL, was the first to sign the bat. Another Indian cricket star and RCB captain Virat Kohli was the last.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's David Warner was the only captain who was not present. His teammate Shikhar Dhawan put his signature on the bat on behalf of the Australian.

Captains of IPL teams, from left, MS Dhoni - Chennai Super Kings, Shikhar Dhawan - Sunrisers Hyderabad, George Bailey - Kings X1 Punjab, Gautam Gambhir - Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma - Mumbai Indians, Jean-Paul Duminy - Delhi Daredevils, Virat Kohli - Royal Challengers Bangalore and Shane Watson - Rajatshan Royals pose for photograph in Kolkata