Indian Premier League trophy. (Sporzpics for IPL)
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will kickstart on Saturday with defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders locking horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a repeat of the inaugural IPL’s season opener in 2008, both teams will fight each other for the second time in the curtain raiser.
Kolkata had thrashed Bengaluru at their home by 140 runs in the game which was headlined by KKR star opener Bredon McCullum’s iconic 73-ball 158*. The New Zealander put that match in record books with 13 maximums and 10 fours as KKR put up 222/3 in 20 overs. Bengaluru were bundled out for just 82.
While the match on March 22 will be Kolkata’s eighth appearance in IPL’s season opener since its inception, Bengaluru will feature in their sixth. RCB have won only one match while losing four curtain raisers
Chennai Super Kings were part of most IPL season openers (9). Mumbai Indians, with eight matches being the first of the season, sit second ahead of KKR.
IPL season openers throughout the years
| IPL | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | Date | Team Won |
| IPL 2008 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Kolkata Knight Riders | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | April 18 | KKR won by 140 runs |
| IPL 2009 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | Newlands, Cape Town | April 18 | MI won by 19 runs |
| IPL 2010 | Deccan Chargers | Kolkata Knight Riders | Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai | March 12 | KKR won by 11 runs |
| IPL 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | April 8 | CSK won by 2 runs |
| IPL 2012 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | April 4 | MI won by 8 wkts |
| IPL 2013 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi Daredevils | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | April 3 | KKR won by 6 wkts |
| IPL 2014 | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | April 16 | KKR won by 41 runs |
| IPL 2015 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai Indians | Eden Gardens | April 8 | KKR won by 7 wkts |
| IPL 2016 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiants | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | April 9 | RPS won by 9 wkts |
| IPL 2017 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | April 5 | SRH won by 35 runs |
| IPL 2018 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | April 7 | CSK won by 1 wkts |
| IPL 2019 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | March 23 | CSK won by won by 7 wkts |
| IPL 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | September 19 | CSK won by 5 wkts |
| IPL 2021 | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | April 9 | RCB won by 2 wkts |
| IPL 2022 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | March 26 | KKR won by won by 6 wkts |
| IPL 2023 | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | March 31 | GT won by 5 wkts |
| IPL 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | March 22 | CSK won by 6 wkts |
