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One can expect fireworks, heart-stopping moments, interspersed with boundaries and massive sixes as the lucrative Indian Premier League gears up for the 17th season this weekend.

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There will be millions of eyes worldwide glued to their television screens while each and every game will be packed to the rafters.

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The action gets underway on Friday with defending champion Chennai Super Kings, led by the incomparable Mahendra Singh Dhoni, facing Faf du Plessis’ Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The tournament runs until May 26 and fans will get their money’s worth as the 10 teams are slated to play 70 matches, followed by playoffs and the final.

Chasing the main prize will be Chennai, Royal Challengers, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants.

This tournament churns out as many millionaires as Silicon Valley and it’s little wonder it is the dream of every leading player in the world to be recruited by one of the teams — not only for the high-calibre competition, but the financial rewards as well.

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The stars certain to hog the spotlight this season will include India’s Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Australian pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Most of the focus will be on 26-year-old wicket-keeper, Pant who is returning to competition after a near-fatal car accident in 2022. He will lead Delhi Capitals and will also be hoping to make a big enough impression with his bat to reclaim his place on India’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.

Mumbai’s Bumrah is back after sitting out the 2023 season with a back stress injury. Expect him to be handful as he showed his class for India last month when he grabbed 19 wickets in four Tests against visiting England.

Also back after sitting out for two months following the birth of his second child and missing the Test series will be star batsman Kohli. Interestingly Kohli, who leads the league in runs scored, has never lifted the trophy and fans will be hoping he will be able to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to the title.

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Two Australians expected to dominate this season include Starc and Cummins. Not only did they play a leading role in winning the World Cup in 2023, they landed record deals in the IPL player auction.

First, it was the turn of skipper Cummins to briefly become the most expensive player in the history of this competition when Sunrisers Hyderabad splurged a record $2.47 million US on his services, breaking the mark set by England’s Sam Curran $2.3 million in 2023.

But minutes later, Cummins was knocked off the pedestal by Starc when his compatriot and fellow-fast bowler saw Kolkata Knight Riders break the bank by splashing $2.98 million for his services.

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All of this cash for two months of work!

Starc most recently played in the IPL in 2015 and then sat out to concentrate on his international career.

On Saturday, fans will get a chance to watch the two quicks in action when Kolkota hosts the Sunrisers at the iconic Eden Gardens.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that this could be Dhoni’s final IPL season. The 41-year-old Indian great still shows glimpses of his fast hands behind the stumps, although he no longer is the great finisher he was during his international days.

Dhoni, of course, is revered in India after his batting heroics led the country to its second World Cup win in 2011. Dhoni still continues to be cheered on by hundreds of thousands of fans and he will be hoping his wonky knees will survive this season.

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The biggest talking point of the off-season has been all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat. In a move that shook the league and caused widescale controversy, not only did Pandya return, but Mumbai installed him as captain in place of current India captain Rohit Sharma — who led the club for the past 11 years and landed five IPL crowns.

Pandya has been out of action since an injury sidelined him during the World Cup in October, but he says he is now fit and rarin’ to go.

But the club’s decision to replace the popular Sharma as captain received a great deal of backlash. The club has not issued a statement for a change and Sharma has remained silent. But Pandya, who has played for India under Sharma didn’t think there will be a problem.

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“I don’t think it will be awkward, or anything different, it will be a nice feeling because we’ve been playing (together) for 10 years,” Pandya said on Monday.

The two haven’t chatted yet since Sharma has been busy with the national squad.

“Once he comes (and joins the MI camp), we’ll definitely have a chat,” Pandya said.

Mumbai will once again be among the top contenders for the IPL title if this captaincy fallout does not affect the squad.

IRISH THUMPED

Afghanistan thumped Ireland by 57 runs in Sharjah on Tuesday to clinch the Twenty20 series 2-1. Ibrahim Zadran smashed an unbeaten 72 in Afghanistan’s total of 155 for seven and fast bowler Azmatullah Omarzai produced his best Twenty20 figures by claiming four wickets for nine runs off his four overs. The Irish were dismissed for a meagre 98 … Islamabad United pipped Multan Sultans by two wickets in a final-ball thriller to capture the Pakistan Super League on Monday. Sultans made 159 for nine in their 20 overs with Usman Khan scoring 57 and spinner Imad Wasim taking five for 23. Kiwi Martin Guptill hit 50 off 32 balls to propel Islamabad to its third title.

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.

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