Image Source: X – IPL
[Saba Sports News] The IPL 2024 commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, March 22. The electrifying evening featured captivating performances by Bollywood icons Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, along with soulful renditions of hit songs by acclaimed artists including AR Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Mohit Chauhan, Neeti Mohan, and more.
Amidst the festivities, tribute was paid to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan 3 mission, which successfully concluded on August 23, 2023. India’s historic achievement of landing the Vikram Lander Module (LM) on the lunar surface, making it the fourth nation to do so after the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union (now Russia), was celebrated. Moreover, India made history by becoming the first nation to land on the south pole of the Moon, marking a momentous milestone in space exploration.
To honor the dedication of ISRO scientists, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) showcased a special graphic of the Chandrayaan 3 landing during the IPL 2024 opening ceremony.
In the opening fixture of IPL 2024, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). CSK, the defending champions with a record five IPL titles, will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who takes over the captaincy from the legendary MS Dhoni.
Dhoni, instrumental in CSK’s previous triumphs, led the team to victory in the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, RCB, still in pursuit of their maiden title after 16 seasons, will be eager to kickstart their campaign on a positive note. Drawing inspiration from their women’s team, who recently secured their first Women’s Premier League title in the tournament’s second edition, the Faf du Plessis-led side aims for a strong start to their IPL journey.