NEW DELHI: The stage is set for the opening of Indian Premier League 2024 with a highly anticipated match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The defending champions, CSK, are witnessing a significant change as the legendary MS Dhoni passes on the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. This unexpected decision, just a day before the new season kicks off, is seen as a strategic move for a smooth transition as Dhoni is expected to retire at the end of this season.

Beyond the emotional shift of leadership from Dhoni to Gaikwad, both teams face critical questions as they aim for new heights in the tournament.

CSK, with five IPL titles under their belt, have the opportunity to create history by clinching a sixth title, a feat no team has achieved yet, not even the formidable Mumbai Indians with their five trophies.
On the other hand, RCB, who recently secured their first title in the Women’s Premier League, are eager to add an IPL trophy to their collection. However, they have their own set of challenges to overcome.
Under Dhoni’s captaincy, CSK have been a dominant force in the IPL. As Dhoni approaches the twilight of his cricketing career, the team is looking towards younger talents to step up. The absence of Devon Conway due to injury has put the spotlight on new recruit Rachin Ravindra, along with the Kiwi addition of Daryl Mitchell.
For RCB, skipper Faf du Plessis and star batsman Virat Kohli will lead the charge, supported by Cameron Green’s versatility. Glenn Maxwell’s past performances add depth to their lineup, while the fast bowling unit brings a mix of pace and skills.
Here’s everything you need to know about the IPL 2024 season opener between CSK and RCB:
What: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL 2024 1st Match
When: March 22 (Friday)
Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Time: 8:00 PM (IST)
Where to watch: Live stream/telecast on Jio Cinema and Star Sports Network
Where to follow Live: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports
Squads:
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman and Avanish Rao Aravelly.
RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh and Saurav Chauhan.