The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League kicked off with a match between the defending champions Gujarat Titans and MS Dhoni’s four-time winners Chennai Super Kings at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (March 31). In the first match of the new season, GT beat CSK by five wickets to get off to a winning start. The Hardik Pandya-led side chased down the target of 179 runs in 19.2 overs for the loss of five wickets and completed a hat-trick of wins over the Super Kings. During last year’s edition of the IPL, GT faced CSK twice and won both matches.
The opening match of IPL 2023 lived up to the billing, and before the game, the opening ceremony, in which star singer Arijit Singh and actors Tamannaah Bhatia and Rashmika Mandanna performed, also won fans hearts. While Arijit entertained over one lakh fans present at the Narendra Modi Stadium with his soulful music, Tamannaah and Rashmika danced to various hit tracks.
And towards the end of the opening ceremony, the two captains—Dhoni of CSK and Hardik of GT—also joined the stage to pose for photos with the performers and BCCI officials along with the winners’ trophy, and during that time only, in a heartwarming gesture, Arijit touched Dhoni’s feet. Several pictures of the superstar singer bowing down before Dhoni and touching his feet have gone viral on social media.
