IPL 2025 MI vs KKR: Ananya Panday to perform tonight at Wankhede¡ªnetizens ask, ¡®find someone better or is IPL cost-cutting?¡¯
Ananya Panday will perform at Wankhede ahead of MI vs KKR in IPL 2025, but fans have mixed reactions. While some are excited, others criticize the choice, questioning if IPL is cutting costs. Comparisons to Sara Ali Khan¡¯s RR performance also spark online debate.
Bollywood actress Ananya Panday will take center stage at Wankhede Stadium before the Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders match on March 31. The Indian Premier League¡¯s official social media handle confirmed the news on Sunday, announcing that Mumbai was celebrating 18 years of IPL with a glamorous performance by Ananya. The post highlighted that the actress would bring her charm and style to the #TATAIPL 18 Opening Ceremony, encouraging fans to get ready to dance along.
Sara Ali Khan¡¯s debut IPL performance in Guwahati
Actress Sara Ali Khan performed at the Guwahati stadium on March 30, setting the stage on fire before the Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings match. She described the experience as extraordinary, sharing that it was her first IPL performance and that the warm welcome she received made it even more special.
Sara also spoke about her family's cricketing legacy, mentioning that while people often remember her grandfather, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, as a cricketer, his father, Iftekhar Ali Pataudi, was also a part of the sport. She added that performing at the stadium made her feel as if she was carrying forward a part of this legacy in her own way.
Star-studded performances at IPL 2025
This season¡¯s IPL has witnessed multiple high-profile performances across different stadiums. The grand opening ceremony at Kolkata¡¯s Eden Gardens on March 22 featured singer Shreya Ghoshal, rapper Karan Aujla, and actress Disha Patani. The event was hosted by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Neeti Mohan and Siddharth Mahadevan entertained the crowd at the ACA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam ahead of the Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants match on March 24. At Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, Anirudh Ravichander's performance on March 23 energized the audience. Indian musician Amit Trivedi also captivated the crowd at Ahmedabad¡¯s Narendra Modi Stadium before the Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings match on March 25.
On the professional front, Ananya Panday is preparing for her next project, Chand Mera Dil, directed by Vivek Soni, where she will star alongside Lakshya.
Social media¡¯s reactions to Ananya Panday¡¯s selection
While many fans welcomed the news of Ananya Panday¡¯s performance, others were less impressed. One social media user commented that IPL¡¯s planning seemed strategic, noting that Sara Ali Khan performed ahead of the Rajasthan Royals match, while Ananya Panday was set to perform before Mumbai Indians, drawing a parallel with players Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya.
- Sara Ali Khan performing for Rajasthan Royals (Riyan Parag)
¡ª Koushik Goel (@Goel_koushik422) March 31, 2025
- Ananya Pandey performing for Mumbai Indians (Hardik Pandya)
IPL¡¯s planning on point. (IYKYK)#IPL2025 #ipl2025openingceremony #SaraAliKhan #AnanyaPanday #Riyanparag #HardikPandya
Another fan was critical of the selection, questioning why Ananya Panday was chosen for an event as big as IPL¡¯s 18th season. ¡°Come on, IPL is now 18 years old and you got Ananya Panday to perform. Find someone better or are you all cost-cutting this season?¡± the fan wrote.
Come on IPL is now 18 years old and you got Ananya Pandey to perform. Find someone better or are you all cost cutting this season. #MIvsKKR #TATAIPL
¡ª Shuvlendu Kumar (@Shuvlendu) March 30, 2025
A similar reaction came from another user, who pointed out a contradiction in the choice of performer. They asked why Ananya Panday was performing at MI¡¯s home stadium despite being a well-known Kolkata Knight Riders supporter, even tagging the Mumbai Indians' official account and writing, ¡°Have some shame @mipaltan.¡±
Why is Ananya Pandey performing in MI home stadium when she is a KKR supporter¡ Have some shame @mipaltan
¡ª T (@Gladlyel) March 31, 2025
As IPL 2025 continues, these performances remain a topic of debate, proving that entertainment at the tournament is as much a talking point as the matches themselves. Meanwhile, IPL 2025, which started on March 22, will conclude on May 25.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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