IPL 2013 Opening Ceremony: Pitbull, SRK, Set Stage on Fire at Cricket Extravaganza [FIRST PHOTOS]

The city of Kolkata hosted the opening ceremony of the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament and, as promised it was an incredible music and dance extravaganza. The IPL itself promises nail-biting excitement for die-hard cricket fans.

"We took a train yesterday (Monday) and reached today," Jasdev Singh, who supports the Delhi Daredevils franchise and who travelled from New Delhi, told NDTV.

"It's a great atmosphere here. Shahrukh (Khan), Katrina (Kaif), Deepika Padukone, and Pitbull - that makes for a heady combination," Singh added.

The event was held at the city's Salt Lake Stadium, the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world. And, like other enormous sporting venues around the world, the Salt Lake Stadium is steeped in culture, history and personality. And it was on its very best for the occasion.

As in previous years, this year's opening ceremony entertained millions of fans with performances from rapper Pitbull and Bollywood's most glamorous trio - Shah Rukh Khan (who, incidentally, also owns the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise and whose team is the defending champion), UK-born actress Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone. The three kick-started the event by setting the stage on fire with their spectacular performances.

Pitbull played You Put It Down Like New York City and Give Me Everything Tonight and, before the event started, an excited Pitbull tweeted: "finally my performance in india at #PepsiIPL opening ceremony...daleeeeee!"

Check out the first photographs of the opening ceremony of the 2013 Indian Premier League...