There was Shah Rukh Khan. There was Shreyas Ghoshal. There was Disha Patani and Karan Aujla and there was a glittering bonanza – a celebration fitting to declare IPL 2025 open at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. But eclising all this, the most entertaining moments were reserved among Shah Rukh, Rinku Singh and Virat Kohli. After the musical extravaganza, Bollywood superstar and KKR principal owner Shah Rukh, invited Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend Virat Kohli and KKR’s rising star Rinku Singh on stage.
At first, Shah Rukh introduced Kohli eloquently and urged the crowd to chant ‘Kohli Kohli’ before calling Rinku to join them. As Rinku was making his way to the stage, he shook hands with Shah Rukh Khan but walked past Kohli even as the latter tried to greet him. Videos of the incident went viral during KKR vs RCB match.
While Rinku may have just missed greeting Kohli, someone for whom the left-hander has immense respect, the internet had a field day dissecting the incident.
Dressed in his signature style, Shah Rukh opened the ceremony with a heartfelt and energetic speech, celebrating 18 years of the IPL and thanking cricket fans globally for their unwavering support. His charisma was on full display as he introduced the evening’s performers and set an electrifying tone for the night. SRK’s iconic line, “Party Pathan ke ghar pe rakhoge toh mehman nawazi ke liye Pathan khud aayega aur patake bhi layega,” sent the crowd into a frenzy, hinting at the fireworks—both literal and figurative—that would follow. Later, he returned to the stage, engaging in a fun interaction with cricketers Virat Kohli and Rinku Singh, even dancing with them to hits like “Jhoome Jo Pathaan” and “Lutt Putt Gaya,” much to the delight of the audience.