Expanded IPL 2022 to kickstart today with Chennai-Kolkata clash

Both the teams will be led by new on field bosses.

While Kolkata have picked young Indian in-form batsman Shreyas Iyer as their captain following the fresh auction of players earlier this year, celebrated cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has handed over Chennai's batton to his younger mate and vibrant allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been wearing the yellow jersey for long.

Chennai, who comprehensively defeated Kolkata in the IPL 2021 final held in Dubai amid COVID-19 fear, will have Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, allrounder Dwayne Bravo besides veterans Dhoni and Jadeja to shine as batsmen in the shortest format of the game, which is mostly dominated by the batters.

Besides Iyer, Kolkata this time can rely upon Australia's Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins, New Zealand's Tim Southee, India's Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, West Indies' Andre Russell and Sunil Narine and English cricketer Sam Billings to challenge the yellow brigade.

IPL, which is known for drawing the attention of Bollywood celebrities and much glamour, will have two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans in 2022.

With the COVID-19 cases declining and the restrictions easing in the country, spectators will be allowed in the stadiums upto 25 percent of the total capacity.

The league matches will be held at four venues across Mumbai and Pune, the two big cities in Maharashtra, unlike touring the various states to avoid flying amid coronavirus.

Though the 14th edition of IPL was started in India last year, it had to be stopped midway due to a spike in COVID-19 cases to only get it completed in another phase in Dubai later in 2021.