The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicks off on February 14 with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring some of Bollywood’s biggest names. The inaugural match of WPL 2025 will see defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face Gujarat Giants (GG) in Vadodara.
This year, the opening ceremony will follow a unique two-day format. Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana will headline the performances on the first day, adding to the excitement of the season opener.
WPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: Performances, Matches & Key Details
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 will kick off with a unique two-day opening ceremony, set to take place exclusively during the mid-innings break of the first two matches.
On Friday, February 14, Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana will take center stage during the mid-innings break of the tournament opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Giants (GG).
The following day, Saturday, February 15, celebrated singer Madhubanti Bagchi will perform during the mid-innings break of the second match, where Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Delhi Capitals (DC).
Both matches will begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the performances expected to start around 9 PM IST, depending on the first innings’ conclusion. The Kotambi Stadium (Vadodara International Cricket Stadium) in Vadodara will host these opening fixtures.
Teams & Players to Watch
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, boast a strong squad featuring Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, along with Indian stars Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, and Renuka Singh Thakur. RCB clinched their maiden WPL title in 2024.
- Gujarat Giants (GG) made big moves in the WPL 2025 auction, securing the two most expensive signings—Simran Shaikh for ₹1.9 crore and Deandra Dottin for ₹1.7 crore.
- Mumbai Indians (MI), the 2023 WPL champions, will be captained by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
- Delhi Capitals (DC) will be led by Australian cricket legend Meg Lanning.
With an exciting lineup of performances and high-stakes cricket, WPL 2025 is set for a thrilling start.
The fifth team in the WPL 2025 lineup is UP Warriorz, led by India’s spin-bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma, following the withdrawal of Australian star Alyssa Healy.
The WPL 2025 season will run from February 14 to March 15, with matches taking place across Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai.
