The wait for the much-anticipated edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has begun, with the first game being played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

RCB stalwart Virat Kohli's wife and Indian actress Anushka Sharma, alongside Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil, and Jemimah Rodrigues, are in attendance at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

Additionally, Bengaluru's players wore a practice jersey with the number 11 as a tribute to 11 fans, who earlier lost their lives in a stampede

Rajat Patidar-led men will look to begin their title-defending campaign by securing a win tonight against the Sunrisers. He has won the toss and elected to bowl first against SRH

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan has been handed the leadership duties of Hyderabad in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins