The of the most popular cricket tournament IPL 2019 is to Kick start from today. The first match of the 12th edition of IPL will be played between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The following day will see two matches in the IPL. Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens while Mumbai Indians host the Delhi Capitals. KKR coach Jacques Kallis is confident that the team can rise up to the task and even labelled the side as a better-balanced team than last year. 

IPL 2019: Military bands to perform ahead of opening match

coach Jacques Kallis belives that the team is definetly balanced. In his coloumn for Times of India,   Kallis wrote that he  don’t know how you measure excitement, but this year’s Kolkata squad has got him on the edge of my seat.

He further added that they are definitely better balanced than we were last year with much better fast bowling options and more quality depth in all departments.

Talking about Anrich Nortje, Kallis said, “It is a pity that our South African fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, has had to withdraw through injury, but that’s the nature of professional sport — especially for fast bowlers! But he is a serious talent and I have no doubt he will make his mark in the IPL in years to come — for us.

The first match of IPL 2019 today, Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Even though KKR will miss Nagarkoti and Mavi, they have bought West Indies’ allrounder Carlos Brathwaite for Rs 5 crore. Brathwaite will look to pitch in some overs in the middle while being a power hitter in the batting line up.