A Chris Gayle inspired innings went a long way towards the Royal Challengers Bangalore beating defending IPL champions the Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets with one over to spare.
A superb unbeaten century, the first of this year's competition, by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum saw the Chennai Super Kings easily beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 64 runs in the IPL on Saturday.
The Chennai Super Kings got their 2015 Indian Premier League campaign off to a winning start on Thursday as they beat the Delhi Daredevils, last year's wooden spooners, by a single run.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been withdrawn from this season's IPL competition as he manages his workload ahead of a busy international period for the Aussies, including an Ashes tour in July.
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders produced a dominant performance in the season opener of the IPL on Wednesday, comfortably beating the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets.
South Africa paceman Dale Steyn has found himself impressed by India's pace contingent in recent months, and was especially enamoured with Umesh Yadav, who Steyn says is similar to him in many ways.
Former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is looking forward to his stint as bowling consultant for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, and is confident the side can do better than last year in the IPL.
South Africa spinner Imran Tahir is under no illusions about being a slow bowler in a batsman-dominated competition like the IPL, but hopes his experience will be enough to trick some batsmen as he plays for the Delhi Daredevils.
Former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan is hoping a move to the Chennai Super Kings will be the boost he needs to regain his national team place, with a successful Indian Premier League the first step towards a recall.
Despite promising much last season, the Sunrisers failed to deliver on the field. Their team seemed unbalanced last season and coach Tom Moody has tried to rectify that.
Over the years it is the bowling department that has let them down in the knockout stages. Just like the South Africa national team, the RCB carry the 'chokers' tag in IPL cricket.
The Rajasthan Royals have always been a team that is happy to slip under the radar and let the opposition be the favourites. That's how they won the very first edition of the IPL under Shane Warne in 2008.
The Mumbai Indians will always be known as Sachin Tendulkar's team, even if the legendary former India batsman does not play any more. They would want to improve on their fourth place finish last season.
The Knight Riders are the defending champions and they play their home matches at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium, and they won't want to give up their crown without a fight.
The Super Kings are a team that sets high standards, and would want to make up for the disappointment of last season where they last in the knock-outs to Kings XI Punjab.
