IPL 2024: 5 players to watch out for in tournament's opener

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the schedule for the first two weeks of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, commencing from March 22, 2024, to April 7, 2024. The IPL has become more than just a sporting event; it’s a festival of cricket that transcends boundaries, bringing together talent from various nations and captivating audiences with its matches. During the two-week period, 21 matches will be played across 10 cities, with each team playing a minimum of three matches and a maximum of five.

The 17th season will kick off with defending champions and five-time winners Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, March 22. Both these teams comprise some of the most astonishing talents in the league and it would be a mouth-watering encounter between the two teams.

Here is a list of players to watch out for in the tournament opener between Chennai and Bangalore:

5. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell, often called as the 'Big Show' was scintillating in the last season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. His presence in the middle order gives solidity and explosivity to their batting line-up. Maxwell’s scoring pattern in IPL 2023 was a blend of aggressive boundary-hitting and smart running between the wickets. He played all 14 matches the last season where he amassed 400 runs at a staggering strike rate of 183.49 which included five half-centuries.

He could be a threat to the opposition bowlers and turn the game around for his team within no time. Since the match is in Chennai, he could be a threat with the ball as well, where the conditions have historically shown a great degree of assistance to spinners.