The money-spinning IPL will begin on 22 March with holders the Kolkata Knight Riders to host the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens will be the venue for the opener and the final on 25 May with 74 matches to be played across 13 venues in the 18th edition of the hugely popular T20 tournament.
Ten teams will compete for the title as the world’s top cricketers including Indian star Virat Kohli, Australia’s Pat Cummins and Jos Buttler of England will join their respective teams in India’s searing heat.
The IPL auction for this edition shattered records as Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player when he was sold for a record $3.2-million to Lucknow Super Giants, who later made him captain.
Shreyas Iyer, a title-winning skipper with Kolkata last season, was picked by Punjab Kings for 267.5 million rupees ($3.17-million) as the second-most expensive buy.
READ: Rabada, Miller cash in at IPL auction
The IPL has generated billions in revenue since its inception in 2008, turning the BCCI into one of the richest governing bodies in sport.
The pioneering IPL helped make T20 cricket more popular, spawning copycat events worldwide.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: BCCI
