CHENNAI: The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament has started with a colourful opening ceremony here on Tuesday night.
A galaxy of film stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, got ball rolling for the IPL event with a glittering opening ceremony which enthralled the audience.
The dazzling ceremony was also graced by American pop star Katy Perry and Bollywood star Salman Khan among other showbiz celebrities.
Pakistan's first sports channel Geo Super showed the ceremony live from Chennai and it will also telecast all the matches of the tournament live
The IPL features world stars playing for nine regional teams and the event will continue for 54 days.
The 76-match tournament from April 4 to May 27 has the nine teams playing each other on a home and away basis before a four-game play-off.
Pakistani players, who are usually a major draw in India, have been kept out of the tournament since the second edition, reportedly due to security fears.