Watch: Dhoni gets it right with the stumps yet again; knocks out Anuj Rawat

Ruturaj Gaikwad is leading the hosts. He was named CSK captain a day before the tournament opener, replacing the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will continue to guide his successor in the field. Twenty-year-old uncapped batter Sameer Rizvi was handed his CSK debut.

The IPL has allowed two bouncers per over in the 2024 edition and for the big-hitting Liam Livingstone, the best way to deal with it is to try and smash the rising ball for a six. The modern game is tilted in favour of the batters and two bouncers per over give bowlers more options in the unforgiving T20 format, feels Livingstone.

Livingstone, who has established himself among the leading power hitters in the game, is pretty clear about his plans against the short ball. "Playing a bouncer is something that you have to got to do as a batter in T20 cricket. Whether they can bowl one or two in an over, I don't think it really matters. If it is coming at your head you have to find a way to hit it for six and our job as a batter is to develop the skill to be able to do that.

"Instead of trying to hit a yorker for six, you try to hit a bouncer for six because bowlers have got more options now. It will be more effective on bigger grounds. I am not too sure how many bouncers bowlers would want to bowl on a smaller ground with good wicket, we will see," said the Punjab Kings batter ahead of their IPL opener against Delhi Capitals here on Saturday. Livingstone, who is also a part-time spinner, said the impact of the new rule will only be clear after the initial phase of the IPL.