The 18th season of the IPL kicked off with a grand spectacle, featuring a 35-minute musical performance followed by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic introduction of Virat Kohli, which electrified the crowd that outnumbered home team KKR's fans with chants of "RCB, RCB" echoing through the stands.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may have faltered in IPL 2025’s opening match, but their record in season openers remains one of the strongest in tournament history. Over the past 17 editions, KKR has consistently set the tone with dominant performances,