It is going to be T20 cricket for as far as the eye can see from Friday onwards when defending champions Chennai Super Kings host Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru) in the opening match of IPL 2024.
There has been no dearth of T20 franchise cricket since the start of the year, with the DP World ILT20, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League just a few among a host of tournaments jostling for space. The season now kicks into overdrive and will remain there for some time.
This year's IPL finishes right before the T20 World Cup in June in the Caribbean and US, which means fans will get to see the very best in the world go toe to toe for three straight months.
On such a large timescale, it is difficult to predict who will be left standing by the end. Sure, players right now will be focused on the IPL and their franchises, but almost all top stars will have the subsequent T20 World Cup at the back of their minds.
Many are fighting to be fully fit just in time to feature in the IPL, even if in a reduced capacity, while a number of cricketers are hoping to use the league as a platform to audition for spots in their national teams.
There are other narratives playing in the IPL as well.
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Chennai Super Kings players celebrate after their win in the IPL final against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, India, on Tuesday. AP -
The Super Kings took their fifth title, equalling Mumbai Indians, in a rain-interrupted Twenty20 final. AFP -
The Super Kings celebrate at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. AFP -
Fireworks at the Narendra Modi Stadium after the Chennai Super Kings' victory. AFP -
Chennai Super Kings help skipper MS Dhoni to victory in what might be his IPL swansong. AFP -
Sai Sudharsan hits out on his way to top scoring for Gujarat Titans with a total of 96 off 47 balls. Getty -
Sai Sudharsan of the Gujarat Titans bats. Getty -
Gujarat Titans' captain Hardik Pandya embraces Sai Sudharsan during the 2023 IPL final. Getty -
Teammates applaud Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan (23) as he walks off the field after losing his wicket. AP -
Gujarat Titans' Wriddhiman Saha, left, celebrates his half century - on his way to a total of 54 off 39 - with batting partner Sai Sudharsan. AP -
Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill is stumped Chennai Super Kings' wicketkeeper and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after making 39 off 20. AFP -
Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill plays a shot. AFP -
Chennai Super Kings' players celebrate after the dismissal of Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill. AFP -
Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathiranatook two wickets for 44 runs off his four overs, including the scalps of Sai Sudharsan and Rashid Khan. AP -
Gujarat Titans' captain Hardik Pandya plays a shot on his way to 21 runs off 12 balls. AP -
Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway plays a shot. AP -
Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway, left, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. AP -
Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway plays over the top. AP -
Ruturaj Gaikwad of the Chennai Super Kings bats during the 2023 IPL final. Getty -
AHMEDABAD, INDIA - MAY 29: Ruturaj Gaikwad of the Chennai Super Kings hits out. Getty -
Gujarat Titans' Noor Ahmad celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway. AFP -
Noor Ahmad of the Gujarat Titans celebrates the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Getty -
Noor Ahmed of the Gujarat Titans bowls during the 2023 IPL final. Getty -
Chennai Super Kings' Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot. AP
India captain Rohit Sharma saw his beloved Mumbai Indians captaincy handed over to Hardik Pandya, who was roped in from Gujarat Titans. Veteran wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni is 42 and has one good knee, which means this could very well be his final IPL season as a player.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has returned to the IPL as the most expensive player in its history, going to Kolkata Knight Riders for nearly $3 million. His national team captain Pat Cummins has been tasked with leading the beleaguered Sunrisers Hyderabad out of the rut they find themselves in.
Virat Kohli will be seen back in the field after taking more than two months off cricket for personal reasons. He missed the entire India-England Test series and if he has a below par IPL, there is a chance of him not making it to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, if reports are to be believed.
Surprisingly, a number of England players will not be playing this IPL. Delhi Capitals batsman Harry Brook decided to skip the tournament after the death of his grandmother, while Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Jason Roy are also unavailable due to workload issues. Ben Stokes and Joe Root had already opted out of the player auction in December.
There is a lot going on, and it all begins at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday when RCB visit CSK for the season opener.
Kohli is no longer the captain but remains the heart and soul of Royal Challengers. How much drive he has to push himself in the ever-changing world of T20 cricket is likely to determine his standing in white ball cricket in the immediate future.
The other Indian veteran in the opposing camp – Dhoni – is on the final bend of his stellar career.
He signalled the change of guard on Thursday after handing over the CSK captaincy reins to young opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni had earlier given the captaincy to all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in 2022 but assumed the role once again after the latter struggled as captain and player.
Dhoni famously led Chennai to their fifth IPL title last year, with Jadeja snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Gujarat Titans.
However, Dhoni had played the last IPL with a damaged knee and was expected to bow out of the tournament this year. With the latest decision, the path has been cleared for the next generation to take over, with Dhoni expected to play the role of a mentor and overall player manager at the franchise that has become his second home.
