Kohli returns to action after missing international cricket for almost two months – including India’s test series win over England – owing to the birth of his second child.

Attention will also be heavy on Dhoni, who led Chennai to their record-equalling fifth IPL title last year and returns after being out for 10 months with a knee injury that required surgery.

Dhoni announced his intention to retire at the end of this upcoming season, and Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis told host broadcaster Star Sports: “He (Dhoni) is the greatest-ever captain, and I am very lucky that I have spent some time with him over the years.

“That’s probably the biggest thing in my career, my years at Chennai. It shaped me from a leadership perspective, just observing MS. As a young leader, it was special to my growth.”

Three-time runners-up Bengaluru have never won the IPL title – an oddity for their record-breaking star Kohli. Their women’s team only recently ended the franchise’s trophy drought, winning the 2024 Women’s IPL trophy on Sunday.

Another interesting match-up on the opening weekend sees the two most expensive IPL players ever traded in the player auctions, Australia’s pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, take on each other.

Starc, who returns to the IPL for the first time since 2015, when he played for Bengaluru, will play for Kolkata Knight Riders, who paid about $3 million (HK$23.5 million) last December for his services.

Cummins was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad, who shelled out almost $2.5 million, and will lead the franchise this season.

Sunrisers could also feature 24-year-old leg-spinner Jhathavedh Subramanyan, who became the first Hong Kong cricketer to take part in the player auction, and was signed for 2 million rupee (US$24,000).

In other major news ahead of the IPL season, Rohit Sharma, India’s current captain across formats, has made way for a new skipper at Mumbai Indians: all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was brought in through a high-profile player trade with Gujarat Titans in November.

Pandya, who played for five-time champion Mumbai from 2015 to 2021, had signed with Gujarat ahead of IPL 2022. He captained the new franchise to a maiden title that season and they finished runner-up to Chennai in 2023.

Mumbai have won five titles, all under Sharma, with the last in 2020. However, a barren three-year run had prompted a first regime change after 11 years, sparking a backlash among the Mumbai fan base ahead of the new season.

But Pandya told a preseason news conference: “This team has achieved all its glory under him (Rohit), so it won’t be any different because he will always be there to help me out if I need his help.

“From now on, it will just be me carrying forward what he has started.”

At Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill will take over as captain in what will be his first major leadership stint.

At the Delhi Capitals, star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been declared fit for cricket at the highest level.

The 26-year-old Pant has not played since being in a car accident in December 2022, but has recovered from knee and back injuries in the past 15 months. He will lead the Capitals franchise again, having previously led them to the IPL 2020 final.

At Rajasthan Royals, 22-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 712 runs against England in the five-test series, will pair up at the top with Jos Buttler.