Following the announcement of the first phase of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), fans will get a cracking opening fixture as the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on March 22.
The former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar speaking to Star Sports believes that the IPL should follow the format where a replay of the previous year’s finals should take place to begin the next season. But he sees the significance of the big match as well.
Manjrekar said, “I think the champions should play the first match, and CSK deservingly are in the first game. Ideally, it should have been last year’s finalist who should have played against them but I think there is a good reason to have this opener.”
READ MORE: Chennai Super Kings IPL 2024 Schedule: CSK Fixtures, Dates, Timings, Squad & Venues
He believes that the opener will be a clash among the superstars of Indian cricket overshadowing the franchises. “What you are seeing now is a clash of the superstars, more than the franchises, it’s Dhoni versus Virat, isn’t it?” asked Manjrekar.
Both sides have a star-studded lineup which will make for an exciting fixture to open the new season of the IPL. Current players in the international circuit will also look to make the best use of their time in India to prepare themselves for the T20 World Cup coming up after the IPL as well.
READ MORE: Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2024 Schedule: RCB Fixtures, Dates, Timings, Squad & Venues
Some big names that are looking to get themselves prepared include the likes of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green, and Glenn Maxwell in particular for RCB. For the CSK franchise, it will be the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Deepak Chahar, and more.
As fans get themselves prepared for what is to be a roller-coaster of a season, they will also be eager to see the best international stars team up and take each other on to provide what is an entertaining series of fixtures coming up in the first phase of the tournament.
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