IPL 8: Possible chances of rain during opening ceremony, inaugural match

Kolkata: After disappointing Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens by putting their hopes to rest of a good practice session, the rain Gods don’t seem to leave Kolkata as latest weather report by the Regional Meteorological Centre suggests heavy rain and thunderstorms at the Salt Lake stadium, tonight’s venue of the lucrative Season 8 of the IPL opening ceremony that’s scheduled to start at 7.30 pm.

And to add to the misery, Wednesday's IPL opener between KKR and Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens also looks threatened with heavy showers predicted on the day.

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Regional Meteorological Centre director GC Debnath reportedly said that apart from the showers, there’s a high chance of a thunderstorm striking Kolkata and the surrounding 50 km area on Tuesday afternoon.

The two-hour IPL opening ceremony promises to be an engaging one loaded with celebrity performances from the likes of Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Pritam and Hrithik Roshan.

Check out: Here are the team line-ups

"There is a high possibility of rain and thunderstorm around Kolkata and surrounding 50 km area on Tuesday specially in the afternoon and evening. It is difficult to say if it will affect Salt Lake but chances are high," Debnath said.

On Sunday a thunderstorm uprooted trees in the city and KKR, who looked to be pumped up for a good practice session had to be content at the Pankaj Gupta indoor stadium located within the Eden Gardens premises for some tune up. Meanwhile, Indian pacer Umesh Yadav joined the Knight Riders' pre-tournament camp during the day.

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Mumbai Indians were in for the same fate the same day when they went inside the indoor facility following heavy rain. However, they came on to the ground after some time for a football session on the drenched field.

(Photo: PTI/AP)

The weatherman's forecast has already increased the creases on the foreheads of the organisers, who are particularly concerned about the smooth conduct of a light and laser show -- supposed to be the main attraction of the ceremony -- in the event of a thunderstorm.

All eight team captains will be present at the function to take the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket pledge. Gautam Gambhir, captain of defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, will put the trophy back in play, signalling the start of the 2015 season.