Updated: April 16, 2014, 12:00 AM
In pictures: IPL 7 kicks off in Abu Dhabi
The stadium was predictably packed considering the first week of the tournament was sold out. Plenty of spectators turned out in support of Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, who were all set to face off with Kolkata Knight Riders, the 2012 champions. Ravindranath K / The National
The trophy, which the eight teams are playing to win, was on display shortly before the match began at 6.30pm, local time. Pawan Singh / The National
As the sun set on Zayed Cricket Stadium and the lights came on, the patient fans began to the party. Ravindranath K / The National
For obvious reasons, most of the spectators were from the subcontinent. Pawan Singh / The National
The match began with Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga, Mumbai's new-ball bowlers sending down the first two overs after Kolkata won the toss and opted to bat. Here, the Sri Lanka fast bowler Malinga is bowling to Gautam Gambhir, the Kolkata captain, with Jacques Kallis at the non-striker's end. Pawan Singh / The National
Kolkata got off to a poor start as Gambhir, their captain, was bowled out for nought, with the score four for one. Pawan Singh / The National
But Kallis, South Africa's all-round legend, showed class is permanent as he scored a brilliant fifty. Pawan Singh / The National
With Kallis and Manish Pandey putting on a 131-run stand for the second wicket, the Mumbai fans became visibly quiet. Ravindranath K / The National
Fans paid tribute to their heroes. Here one of them thanks Malinga for leading Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 win in Bangladesh two weeks ago. Pawan Singh / The National
The presence of Bollywood stars was going to be inevitable, especially this man. Shah Rukh Khan is not only India's biggest film star, he is also the part-owner of the Knight Riders franchise. Pawan Singh / The National
Kallis, meanwhile, kept the score ticking after the dismissal of Pandey, for 64, as Kolkata began to make an impact with the bat. Pawan Singh / The National
Sachin Tendulkar, one of India's greatest cricketers who retired in 2013, was sat with his former teammates, Robin Singh and Anil Kumble, in the Mumbai dug-out. Tendulkar has been hired as the Indians' mentor. Pawan Singh / The National
Tendulkar had quite the following seated here, some even wishing him belated 41st birthday wishes. Pawan Singh / The National