IPL starts today

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League will start on Saturday with a clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

This will be the first IPL with 10 teams as two new teams, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, were added to the previous eight.

The teams will be divided into two groups of five, based on their previous IPL records, for a 70-match regular season that promises to be the first completed entirely in India since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Crowds in the cricket-mad nation will, initially at least, be limited to 25 per cent capacity with group games restricted to four venues, one in Pune and three in Mumbai.

After a mega auction, all the teams have different looks and promises a fresh start to the franchise tournament.