IPL 2016: Opening Ceremony Date, Start Time, Live Stream and Cricket Preview
While the superb standard of all-action cricket is the major draw of the Indian Premier League, the opening ceremony is always an occasion to look forward to and this yearโs curtain-raiser is set to continue that tradition.
Itโs a spectacle which officially marks the beginning of the tournament, and for those who were enticed by the World Twenty20 recently, it's a continuation of quality cricket. Additionally, while a plethora of the IPLโs top players will be in attendance at the Wankhede Stadium, so too will be some of the country's biggest stars from other walks of life.
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Here are the vital viewing details for the opening ceremony, what to expect from the showpiece and a look ahead at what's to come over the next six weeks, as eight teams vie for one of the game's most prestigious titles.
Date: Friday, April 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. (Local), 2 p.m. (GMT)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)
Illustrious Lineup For Opening Ceremony
Those in attendance for the advent of a new tournament will be able to enjoy some exceptional entertainment, with some of the biggest names in Bollywood on the bill in Mumbai.
Jacqueline Fernandez, the 2006 Miss Universe Sri Lanka, is perhaps the most glamorous name set to attend the event. Although sheโll be supplemented by the talents of rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and renowned actor Ranveer Singh.
Honey Singh certainly seems to be looking forward to the event, as he revealed on social media recently:
More music will come from all-girl group TBC, and according to a member of the organising committee, there will be a few twists and turns on the night, with another 200 performers said to be involved. โThere will be a few surprises in store,โ a source told Rudranil Guha Roy of SportsKeeda. โThis will be an event to remember.โ
Itโs never an occasion to be missed, and with so much talent, passion and entertainment on show, the opening ceremony is a reflection of what typically goes on, on the field, in this tournament. Running the rule over the squads involved in this seasonโs IPL, that certainly looks set to be the case.
The Mumbai Indians will be seeking to defend their championship after a wonderful season in 2015.
Inspired by the excellent Lasith Malinga, who took 15 wickets in 15 matches last term, they timed their run to the finish line superbly in that victorious campaign. Finishing second in the round-robin phase, they beat Chennai Super Kings in the qualifier and then in the final too, with Lendl Simmonsย starring in the climax with 65.
Heโs a player who will bring brilliant form into this competition. The West Indies star was part of the team that recently won the World T20, with a superb innings in the semi-final with India, per Saj Sadiq of PakPassion:
This year they look as though theyโll face some stiff competition, though. The Bangalore Royal Challengers, on paper at least, have the tournament's most talented squad and a batting lineup to strike fear into bowlers across the competition.
Not only will the Bangalore fans be able to watch the likes of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson, but theyโre also led by the exceptional Virat Kohli, who is in sensational fettle at the moment. As cricket statistician Bharath Seervi noted here, the batsman is a man for the big occasion:
Thereโll also be a couple of new teams to run the rule over this year too. Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants will each be hoping to take the title in their debut campaigns, and led by Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, respectively, thereโs some major talent for both of those outfits to call upon.
While a strong start is favourable, the lengthy nature of the competition means momentum shifts so often prior to the grand finale. It means defeats in early matches arenโt too costly for teams, and while we may see some players struggling to find their groove in the nascent stages, once we get into the grind of the group stage, sparks will inevitably fly.
