IPL 2024: Dhoni v Kohli kicks marathon T20 season into overdrive

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.

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