The highly anticipated 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off on March 22, marking the beginning of another thrilling season of cricketing action. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening match, breaking the long-standing tradition of the opening clash between the winners and runners-up of the previous edition.
Led by the iconic MS Dhoni, CSK will have the home advantage as they play their first match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, much to the delight of their loyal fans.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the schedule for the first 21 matches of the tournament, spanning across the first 17 days. This partial schedule takes into account the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, with the complete IPL schedule set to be disclosed at a later date, pending finalization of the general election dates.
In anticipation of the opening encounter between RCB and CSK, cricket enthusiasts have been buzzing about the fantasy playing XI for the match:
1. M.S. Dhoni (C) (WK)
2. Faf du Plessis (VC)
3. Virat Kohli
4. Devon Conway
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Cameron Green
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Deepak Chahar
9. Mohammed Siraj
10. Maheesh Theekshana
11. Matheesha Pathirana
With star-studded lineups and intense rivalries, the stage is set for an exhilarating start to the IPL 2024 season as fans gear up to witness their favorite teams battle it out for cricketing glory.