Sheikh Mohammed, Amitabh Bachchan and other famous names at IPL - in pictures

A look at the star names who have witnessed the T20 extravaganza

Shah Rukh Khan is the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders and the biggest Bollywood star associated with the IPL. AFP

Shah Rukh Khan watches the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 12, 2020. Sportzpics for BCCI

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during the 2014 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai. Courtesy Dubai Government Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watches the 2014 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Courtesy Dubai Government Media Office

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif waves to the crowd while watching the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on May 23, 2009. AFP

Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput during the 2015 IPL match between Chennai Superkings and Rajasthan Royals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Sportzpics / IPL

Late actor Irrfan Khan, left, Deepika Padukone, centre, and legendary star Amitabh Bachchan during the 2015 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Sportzpics / IPL

Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings, during the match against Chennai Super Kings at the Dubai International Stadium on October 7, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL

Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings (then the Kings XI Punjab), during a match against Royal Challengers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Anushka Sharma, actress and wife Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli, during the 2018 IPL match against Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore AFP

Preeti Zinta and actor Ranbir Kapoor during the match between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi on May 15, 2012. Getty

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan watches the match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 11, 2012. AFP

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar with Delhi Daredevils players Virender Sehwag, left, Shoaib Malik, second right, and Mohammad Asif in New Delhi on March 31, 2008. AFP

Actor Venkatesh, left, and former Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad during the 2017 IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Hyderabad. Sportzpics / IPL

Actor Vivek Oberoi watches the match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Dubai International Stadium on September 22, 2021. Sportzpics / IPL

Actress Nargis Fakhri during the match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, on May 1, 2016. Sportzpics/ IPL

Late actor Irrfan Khan during the 2016 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi. Sportzpics / IPL

Tennis star Sania Mirza during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on May 18, 2014. Sportzpics/ IPL

Actor Venkatesh with Rana Daggubati, left, and music director Anu Malik during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on April 18, 2016. Sportzpics / IPL

The Indian Premier League is known, primarily, for two things – fabulous money for players, and celebrities in the stands.

The IPL has moved in and out of India, been held behind closed doors and also witnessed crippling corruption scandals. But what has never changed is the star power the league has attracted – on the field and off it.

That was by design as Indian cricket administrators amalgamated glitzy cricket and Bollywood star appeal right at the start, bringing in famous names like Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta as team owners.

It was a perfect match as the IPL carved a niche for itself in the cricketing and social calendars of India. Many celebrities have watched the IPL matches from the stands over the years, adding more glamour to an already dazzling show.

The 2022 edition is set to begin this week and matches will be restricted mainly to Mumbai – the hub of Bollywood. With spectators allowed in the stands this season, expect more big names at the venues over the next two months.

Above is a gallery of the celebrities who have attended IPL matches since its inception in 2008. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.