IPL inaugural ceremony in Kolkata today


As the curtains go up on a mix of cricket and culture at the opening ceremony of the sixth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday (today), fans of cricket and Bollywood lined up at the Salt Lake Stadium’s gates since early morning on Monday to claim their share of tickets for the inaugural event.

Battling soaring temperatures, cricket and film buffs queued up at two of the gates of the venue in the satellite township since 8 am to ensure a seat at the gala opener that sees Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone shake a leg.

The inaugural match will be played between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils.

The IPL always remains a hub of controversies this year IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla banned Sri Lankan cricketers to play in Chennai after Tamil Nadu state government opposed Lankan players presence in the state.

Earlier, the second edition of IPL was transferred to South Africa and security concerns in India.

The Indian Premier League's doors have been effectively closed for Pakistani cricketers after 2009 Mumbai terrorist attack.
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