Gargi Raut at Eden Gardens
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been about more than just cricket. It’s a spectacle of entertainment, success stories, cinema, music, celebrities and sporting passion. But at the heart of it all, beyond the glitz and the glamour, the fireworks and the drama, lie the fans — who make IPL what it truly is.
The 2025 IPL season burst into life at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the home of the defending champions. The night started with a spectacle combining cinema and cricket—with Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, Karan Aujla and the ‘King of Bollywood’, Shah Rukh Khan, hosting the opening ceremony. While the performances set the tone with their groove and beats, Shah Rukh sent fans into a frenzy as he convinced Rinku Singh and Virat Kohli to dance alongside him on the stage—three icons, one unforgettable moment of cricket-meets-cinema magic.
While the celebrities had the spotlight, the frenzy wasn’t limited to the stage. In the stands were the real superstars—the fans. They took over the night, charging the two teams with their chants and cheers. Among those in the stands were two of the most recognisable faces—Sugumar and Ashok, RCB and KKR superfans. For Sugumar, it is a special season, with his picture featured on the RCB team bus right next to Kohli.
He feels immense pride. “It feels like I’m leading the team,” he said with a laugh. “But really, it’s the love of the fans that got me here.”
On the other hand, KKR’s superfan Ashok had fans queuing up for pictures outside of the stadium ahead of the game—flaunting his latest addition—“Dil se KKR” shaved on his head. It’s true what they say, the IPL is an identity for some.
But this time around, even at KKR’s home ground, the roar and excitement for Kohli was unmatched. The chants of “RCB! RCB!”quickly gave way to one name echoing through Eden — “Kohli! Kohli! Kohli!”. Fans going wild to catch a glimpse of the biggest name in cricket. Not just on the match day, but the days preceding. Fans queued up outside of the stadium all day to see their hero. Traffic stopped, phones out, fans climbing fences, dodging cops, all this madness for one name—Kohli.
The IPL has scaled new heights on the shoulders of its fans. A group of RCB fans had travelled all the way from Jharkhand. The reason? Kohli again. They did not mind the expense or the discomfort of the long journey. After all, the reward was getting to watch Kohli play. From those who travel city to city, faces painted and flags waving, to the ones screaming from their living rooms, this is what makes the IPL what it is.
Fans may be divided by colours or jerseys or slogans, but in the end, it’s the love of the game that unties them all. And even in the frenzy and passion of it all, they are all beautifully united. At the end of the day, when you really think about it, it’s the fans who run the show. Without them packing the stadiums every night, the IPL would not be one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world.