IPL 2015 Schedule: Updated Fixtures, Times and Cricket Predictions

The IPL is underway after an engrossing tournament opener between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Mumbai Indians; now a host of other sides will be hoping to get off to the best possible start by securing points in the opening exchanges.

While there is almost two months of cricket to come before a winner is determined, setting a strong early precedent is vital for the sides involved in the competition. An early win can fester momentum and togetherness amongst a team, while a loss immediately puts a side on the back foot in their bid to make it to the tournament playoffs.

Here’s a look at some enthralling fixtures to come and a closer examination of two encounters that will see four teams get their respective campaigns underway.

Chennai Super Kings vs. Delhi Daredevils

The Chennai Super Kings are the favourites to be eventual champions this year and the anticipation is palpable when it comes to seeing how their star-studded squad will fare in their first match against the Delhi Daredevils.

MS Dhoni will be captaining the Super Kings once again this year and all facets of their team look in superb fettle. Perhaps most exciting for those spectators in Chennai is the chance to see New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum in action, as he spearheads the batting for the Super Kings after his remarkable World Cup campaign.

As noted by OptaJim, the Black Caps star is exceptional when it comes to setting an early tempo to a team’s innings:

Men like Dhoni, Dwayne Smith, Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis give this Chennai team some formidable batting options to accompany McCullum. In addition, their bowlers are also of the highest order, with players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohit Sharma all exceptional exponents of 20-over cricket.

Delhi are one of the dark horses for glory and they boast some destructive individual players. The most popular man in their ranks will be Indian star Yuvraj Singh, who is capable of making an impression with both bat and ball.

The Daredevils paid tribute to him on their official Twitter feed recently:

Even with Yuvraj, Mohammed Shami and JP Duminy in situ, the Super Kings will overwhelm this Delhi outfit. In front of a raucous home crowd, expect the Chennai team to start with real impetus whether it’s with the bat or the ball and for Dhoni's men to get their tournament off to the best possible start with an emphatic win.

Prediction - Chennai Super Kings

Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals

After being the dominant side in the competition for so long last year, Kings XI Punjab will have been extremely disappointed to lose out in the final to Kolkata. But skipper George Bailey will be hoping the heartbreak of that loss will spur them on in this year’s tournament and they have some talismanic figures to call upon.

Glenn Maxwell is one of them and anyone who followed Kings XI’s matches last year will know the damage he can do in this particular format. As noted by HoldingWilleyCricket, the Aussie all-rounder was extremely destructive with the bat last year:

He’ll be confident coming into this tournament on the back of World Cup success with his country too, but up against the Rajasthan Royals in their competition curtain-raiser, the Punjab side will face an XI that has a strong Australian core. Indeed, Steve Smith, Shane Watson and James Faulkner have all been snapped up by the Royals for this season.

The former of that trio was magnificent at the World Cup and, as we can see here courtesy of the official Rajasthan Twitter account, Smith’s Royals team-mate Ajinkya Rahane was extremely complimentary when talking about his performances at the tournament:

Kings XI seem to have a little bit extra ahead of this one, though. Aside from Maxwell, they have a clutch of other quality batting options and in Mitchell Johnson, a thoroughbred wicket-taker capable of turning a game. Expect their key players to come to the fore and get their pursuit of glory off to a smooth start.

Prediction - Kings XI Punjab