Vintage Virat Kohli and 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi headline 19th IPL season

[p]A high-profile consortium has acquired [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/royal-challengers-bengaluru/ObLbexsS/"]Royal Challengers Bengaluru[/a] for an eye‑watering $1.78 billion, while another is splashing $1.6 billion to take control of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rajasthan-royals/S2MQPiFG/"]Rajasthan Royals[/a] - reminders ‌of the enduring pull of the world's richest T20 league.[/p][p]That financial ‌muscle, coupled with the league's administrative clout, ensures the 10-team competition proceeds with its ‌usual pomp even as the Pakistan Super League across the border opens ‌behind closed doors, citing a fuel shortage linked to the conflict in the Middle East.[/p][p]On the field, the season begins with a notable first: 10 homegrown captains will lead their ‌sides at the toss.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunrisers-hyderabad/ltywUfPr/"]Sunrisers Hyderabad[/a] are the outliers, with ⁠Ishan Kishan set to hand the ‌reins to Pat Cummins once the Australia captain is fit later in the tournament.[/p][embed guid="e5452323-97a3-4e61-8fdb-664223de3e2f" url="https://x.com/IPL/status/2037060716751212873" social-type="twitter" /][p]Cummins' compatriots ​Josh Hazlewood (Bengaluru) and Mitchell Starc ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/delhi-capitals/tv8Qjdkq/"]Delhi[/a]) will also miss early matches as they work back to full fitness, while Rajasthan's England all-rounder Sam ​Curran has been ruled out entirely.[/p][p]Bengaluru, having finally shed their "nearly men" tag last year, open their title defence against Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where ⁠the mood is likely to ​be subdued.[/p][p]The joy of last season's breakthrough turned to tragedy when 11 people were killed in a stampede outside the ground, and uncertainty lingered before RCB received clearance to host home fixtures at the venue.[/p][p]Virat Kohli's presence, however, should lift ‌the mood.[/p][p]No longer captain but still the beating heart of Bengaluru at 37, the India great remains box office beyond franchise lines.[/p][h2]New star[/h2][p]Now based in London and active internationally only in 50‑over cricket, Kohli is a rarer sight for home fans, who will again throng the stands to watch him in the twilight of his career.[/p][p]Eyes will also be on a new star in Indian cricket.[/p][p]Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who turns 15 this week, lit up his debut season with a 35‑ball hundred against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gujarat-titans/WxbsgtO5/"]Gujarat Titans[/a] last year.[/p][p]The left-hander ‌was also the architect of India's successful campaign at the Under-19 World Cup ​this year. Expectations will naturally follow as he walks out alongside fellow ‌Rajasthan opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.[/p][p]Conditions are expected to be unforgiving for bowlers once more.[/p][p]Pundits predict 200‑plus totals could become the rule on batting‑friendly pitches, especially with the Impact Rule - allowing teams to swap a bowler with a batter - in play.[/p][p]Mumbai Indians will be gunning for a record sixth title, ⁠while Gujarat Titans, led by India's ⁠test and ODI captain Shubman ‌Gill, will be eyeing a second crown.[/p]