The IPL 2023 got underway on March 31, 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad with the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the first match of the tournament.

The opening match of the tournament was preceded by a glittering ceremony which saw performances from actresses Tamannaah Bhatia and Rashmika Mandanna and some soulful song renditions by Arijit Singh.

Arijit Singh belted out his hits like ‘Kabira’, ‘Kesariya’, 'Tere Pyaar Mein' and 'Ek Baar Hi Kiya" and he then got onto a jeep while singing and took a lap of the ground and CSK captain MS Dhoni was caught on the camera swaying to the song Deva’ from Brahmastra in the dugout just before the toss.

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When the captains of the two sides were called onto the podium to join BCCI officials and three performers, MS Dhoni arrived on a buggy and hugged Arun Singh Dhumal, Jay Shah and BCCI president Roger Binny.

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Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, the GT captain won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Here are the playing XIs of the two sides:

Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (w), Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph.