IPL 2022: Two new teams & star players - all you need to know as tournament returns

The world's most glamorous T20 tournament is back on Saturday as the Indian Premier League returns.

Cricketing superstars from around the globe will descend on India for the 15th edition of the franchise competition.

With two new teams — Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans — added and a shake-up of the squads following the mega-auction, 2022 promises to bring a combination of freshness and familiarity as Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler and co duke it out over the next two months.

The 2021 edition started behind closed doors and finished in the UAE last year, but this year the always vociferous IPL fans will be back. Venues will be limited to 25% capacity initially but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is confident that number will increase as the tournament progresses.

There are now 10 franchises representing different cities in India, with matches taking place at four neutral venues across two cities: three in Mumbai and one in Pune.

The teams have been split into two virtual groups after being seeded based on the number of times they have won the IPL or made the finals.

Group A is made up of Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, with Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans comprising Group B.

The opening game sees a repeat of the 2021 final as defending champions Chennai meet Kolkata.

Each team will play 14 matches in the league phase, taking on every team in their group and the equivalent side in the other group twice, facing the other four sides only once.

The top four sides will go through to the play-offs, with the final scheduled for 29 May.

After claiming their fourth IPL title in