The opening contest of Pepsi IPL 2014 will feature the defending champions Mumbai Indians pitted against the 2012 winners Kolkata Knight Riders. Always considered to be among the formidable teams in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians never managed to lay their hands on the coveted trophy. However, 2013 turned out to be quite a watershed year for the Mumbai franchise as they won the IPL and followed it up with the Champions League T20 title. The team will be eyeing a hat-trick of titles as they embark on what promises to be a tightly contested IPL 2014. After winning the IPL title in 2012, the Kolkata Knight Riders couldn’t quite carry that form into the following season as they failed to qualify for the Playoffs and finished a disappointing seventh in the (formerly) nine-team league. The Kolkata Knight Riders, like most other teams, have undergone a transformation, and will be hoping the influx of fresh faces will bring lots of positive energy, good luck and an upswing to the team’s fortunes.
Match Time – Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 8 pm IST
Match Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi