Mumbai: The 15th season of the IPL T20 series kicks off in Mumbai today. Kolkata Knight Riders clash with defending champions CSK in the first league match. The 15th edition of the IPL, India’s premier sports festival, begins today with many new highlights. With 2 new teams joining Lucknow and Gujarat this time, a total of 10 teams will be fielding. There have been changes on all teams since the mega auction. Many are waiting to prove their worth as new captains, new players, debut young players.
The captains of teams other than Mumbai, Rajasthan and Delhi have been replaced. With Corona under control, 25 percent of fans are allowed to watch matches. The U.S. government has announced that corona restrictions will end after March 31. So the number of fans is likely to increase. There is no change in the way each team plays in 14 games. There have been 55 league games before. This time it has risen to 70. There are 70 league matches and 4 play-offs to take place in a total of 65 days.
All matches will be played at Wankhede, Brabourne, DY Patil in Mumbai and the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. 20 matches each at Wankhede, DY Bottle Stadium, 15 matches each at Brabourne, MCA Stadium.
The venues for the play-off round matches and the final have not been announced. The league round matches end on May 18. The final will take place on May 29.
Chennai Super Kings clash with Kolkata in the first league match
Defending champions Chennai and former champions Kolkata will clash in the first league match starting at 7.30 pm tonight at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chennai team has won the title 4 times so far and Kolkata 2 times. This time Jadeja will play Chennai and Shreyas will play Kolkata. Chennai beat Kolkata in the final last year to clinch the title. Shreyas, who was the Delhi captain in 2020, led the team to the final. So there is extra expectation on the Kolkata team. With Dhoni stepping down from the helm and Jadeja taking over, expectations for Chennai have skyrocketed.
face to face
The two teams have clashed 26 times to give Chennai a 17-8 lead. One game dropped. In 2021, Chennai won all 3 matches. The maximum is 220 for Chennai and 202 for Kolkata. At least Chennai are 114 and Kolkata are 108.
In the CSK kingdom …
Chennai Ithurai has seen the field in 12 series. In all 11 of them, the record has been reached in the play-off round. In the year 2020 alone, for the first time, it was ranked 7th without being able to even enter the play-off round. Entering the final 9 times, owning the record for most times played in a final and winning the trophy 4 times. Tamil Nadu players Narayan Jagadeesan and Chezhiyan Harinishanth are waiting anxiously if given a chance.
Knight Riders excitement
The Kolkata team led by new captain Shreyas Iyer is excited. Venkatesh Iyer from Tamil Nadu and Varun Chakraborty are in the list. KKR, which won the trophy in 2012 and 2014, advanced to the final for the 3rd time last year and settled for 2nd place. Shreyas, Russell, Sunil, Pinch, Indrajith, Rana, Venkatesh are the action-packed batting line-up that will challenge the opposing bowlers.
Rajasthan in Vida effort
Rajasthan, the first champions of the IPL, have played in 11 series so far and have advanced to the play-off round only 3 times. Rajasthan won the trophy advancing to the final in the first season, but Vida continues to try even if they fail to achieve after that. 7th place last time. Tamil Nadu player Ashwin has added extra strength in the current season. If Samson, Padikkal, Butler, Hedmeyer, Jaiswal are whitewashed, there is no doubt that Rajasthan will go royal.
Sirum Delhi Capitals
The Delhi team has played in 13 series and has been in the play-off round 5 times. In 2020, Shreyas led the team to the final for the first time and finished 2nd. Rishabh Punt, who was appointed captain last time, will continue as captain this time as well. Warner, Prithvi, Mitchell Marsh, Akshar, Sarfraz, Shardul Atom has caused anticipation.
Ra … Ra … Royal Challengers
Despite being predicted to be the team to win the trophy every time, history has been the dream of advancing to the play-off round in many seasons. Kohli has resigned as captain due to harsh criticism. Du Plessis has been named the new captain of South Africa. RCB has entered the play-off round 7 times. 2nd place in 2009, 2011, 2016. For the 3rd time in a row, it got 4th place last year. Dinesh Karthik, a Tamil Nadu batsman, has been named in the Bangalore all-rounders’ wicket-keeper squad.
Gujarat Titans
Hardik Pandya, the son-in-law of the soil, has been appointed as the captain of another debut team Gujarat. With not only his fitness but also his ability to play in the IPL, he will no longer have a place in the Indian team, so a special match from Hardik is sure to emerge. Along with Tamil Nadu players Vijay Shankar, Sai Kishore and Sai Sudarshan, the team is strong with Rahul Dwivedi, Rashid Khan, Shami and Ferguson.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Rise
Sunrisers Hyderabad made their IPL debut in 2013. Has advanced to the play-off round in 6 of the 9 series played so far. It is noteworthy that he entered the play-off round 5 times in a row. In 2016, he won the trophy and set a record. Despite finishing last season, Kane Williamson is gearing up for the current season with a united front and is gearing up for the finals with the aim of accumulating victories. The inclusion of Tamil Nadu players Natarajan and Washington in the squad is an added strength.
Flying Punjab Kings
The Punjab team is a prime example of how change does not change one thing. No matter how many changes are made the file just does not join hands. The failure to retain Rahul has put the leading players in the mega auction. Mayank Agarwal is the first time captain to lead them. The highest achievement was advancing to the play-off round in 2013 and qualifying for the final. Last time it reached 7th place. The return of Tamil Nadu player Shah Rukh Khan is an added strength. If Dhawan, Burstow, Livingstone, Shah Rukh give an action hand, it will be difficult to control this team.
Mumbai Indians dominated
Mumbai, who have advanced to the final 6 times so far, have won the trophy 5 times. Mumbai have won the trophy the most times in IPL history. This time Hatrick finds the field with the champion dream. Suriyakumar, Ishant and Pollard will be the trump card for the action-packed victory in the Rohit-led Mumbai team. Tamil Nadu player Murugan Ashwin is also attracting attention.
Lucknow Super Giants
The newcomer Lucknow team, led by KL Rahul, is making a splash. Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Holder, De Gock, Stones, Evin Lewis are all expected to play. The bowling of Avesh, Sameera, Mark Wood and Bishnoi also adds strength to the team. It remains to be seen whether they will play together.