TATA IPL 2024: MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli in IPL Season Opener

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 21 March 2024, 03:17:09 PM IST

TATA IPL 2024: MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli in IPL Season Opener
The new season of the Indian Premier League commences in Chennai with an eagerly anticipated match between the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and the beloved Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The star-studded opening fixture sees MS Dhoni captaining CSK against Virat Kohli's RCB. Kohli returns to action after a two-month hiatus from international cricket, having missed India's recent series against England due to the arrival of his second child.
All attention is focused on Dhoni as he makes his comeback after a 10-month hiatus following Chennai's fifth IPL title victory last year. Dhoni, who had earlier declared his intention to retire at the conclusion of the upcoming season, is under scrutiny. Faf du Plessis, the skipper of Bengaluru, lauded Dhoni's leadership, hailing him as the greatest captain ever and emphasizing the profound influence of Dhoni's tenure at Chennai on his own development as a leader.
"He (Dhoni) is the greatest-ever captain, and I am very lucky that I have spent some time with him over the years", Faf told host broadcaster Star Sports. "That's probably the biggest thing in my career, my years at Chennai. It shaped me from a leadership perspective, just observing MS. As a young leader, it was special to my growth".
Despite being three-time runners-up, Bengaluru has never secured the IPL title, a surprising reality considering the presence of the record-breaking star batter Kohli. However, the franchise's women's team recently ended their trophy drought by claiming the 2024 Women's IPL trophy.
Mumbai Indians have named all-rounder Hardik Pandya as their new captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma, following a significant player trade with Gujarat Titans in 2023. Sharma's departure has sparked controversy among Mumbai's supporters, symbolizing the conclusion of a prominent era. Nevertheless, Pandya has voiced his assurance in upholding Sharma's legacy with the backing of the former captain.
"This team has achieved all its glory under him (Rohit), so it won't be any different because he will always be there to help me out if I need his help," Pandya said at the pre-season Mumbai conference. "From now on, it will just be me carrying forward what he has started. I know he will have his hand on my shoulder all through the season".
Shubman Gill is set to assume the role of captain for Gujarat Titans, marking his debut in a significant leadership position. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, the acclaimed wicketkeeper-batter, has been given the green light for elite-level cricket following his recovery from knee and back injuries. Pant, who had been sidelined since December 2022 due to a car accident, will resume his captaincy duties for Delhi Capitals, having previously led them to the IPL 2020 final. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal, coming off an impressive performance against England, will join forces with Jos Buttler at the top of the batting order for Rajasthan Royals.
Australian pace pair of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins emerged as the top two highest-priced players. Starc, making a comeback to the league after six years, fetched a record fee as he joined Kolkata Knight Riders. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured Cummins for a substantial amount, who will also lead the franchise in the upcoming season.

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