Bollywood's 'Khiladi' Akshay Kumar performed a daredevil stunt amidst deafening fireworks to welcome the Indian Premier League bandwagon at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium here Saturday evening.

The approximately 30,000-strong crowd present to see Virender Sehwag's Delhi Daredevils take on Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals were treated to entertainment of a different kind.

Akshay has performed some breathtaking stunts during in his 17-year Bollywood career, but this will probably count as one of his best - as he performed it real.

The only hiccup was that the action sequence did not finish the way it was planned. Akshay flung in air over 70 meters from the ground and slid on a wire from one end of the stadium to the other, watched by a spell- bound audience.

For a moment it looked as if a brilliant trapeze artist was performing. The 40-year-old fitness freak climbed on to a trolley and then leapt in the air on the specially laid wire for the stunt. He turned upside down as he tried to reach the other end of the stage, crossing flames.

But with just a few metres left to cross the flames, the wires loosened up and he had to come down to the ground. The Delhi-born star then did a lap of the stadium with cheer leaders following him.

There were also a trick bicyclist and martial arts performers who entertained the audience with their stunts. Akshay's wife and former actress Twinkle Khanna was among the spectators.

This is the first major floodlit match at the Ferozeshah Kotla.