New Delhi: Senior Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player Virat Kohli on Saturday was felicitated with a special memento on participating in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of the IPL 2025 season opener between RCB and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, a grand opening ceremony took place at the venue with some of the special artists in the country performed at the stage.
KKR co-owner and prominent Indian film actor Shah Rukh Khan took the responsibility of hosting the opening ceremony once the performances were completed. SRK welcomed Kohli on the stage given that he is the only player in the history of the cash-rich T20 competition to play for only one team (RCB).
KKR lower order batter Rinku Singh was the other player invited to share the stage with Kohli. SRK requested both the Indian players to dance on his song. While Rinku showed his moves on the song ‘Lutt Putt Gaya’ from the film ‘Dunki Drop 2’, the senior man Kohli was asked to shake his leg on the title song of film Pathan ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan.
Later in the opening ceremony, the office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) came on the stage. BCCI president Roger Binny was asked to present the Indian batting star with a memento of ‘IPL 18’ given that he is one of the four players to have featured in all 18 seasons of the IPL with the other three being MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Manish Pandey.
Kohli becomes third Indian to make 400 T20 appearances
The IPL 2025 opener match also marked the 400th T20 match for Kohli after he was named in the RCB playing XI against KKR. He became only the third Indian player to reach the landmark after Rohit Sharma (448) and Dinesh Karthik (412). West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has played the most T20 matches in his career with 695 appearances.
Virat Kohli received a special memento at the IPL 2025 opening ceremony, celebrating his participation in all 18 IPL seasons. The ceremony, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, also marked Kohli’s 400th T20 match, making him only the third Indian to reach this milestone. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
