Indian Premier League schedule unveiled

Ricky Ponting will be thrown straight into the coaching hot seat in this year's Indian Premier League, with his Mumbai Indians to open the tournament against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on April 8.

The schedule for the eighth edition of the world's biggest and most lucrative Twenty20 league was unveiled overnight, with the opening game to be played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It's the first of 56 preliminary matches before the tournament culminates with three playoffs and then the final in Kolkata on May 24.

Ponting was unveiled as Mumbai coach late last year and will take over a side that includes India's star batsman Rohit Sharma, Sri Lanka quick Lasith Malinga and powerful West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard.

The former Test captain is part of a strong Australian flavour at the tournament, with 17 Aussies retained from last year's tournament and another seven - including Australia's T20 captain Aaron Finch - released back into the player auction.

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The auction will be held on Monday and will feature a number of Aussies hoping to be picked up for the first time, including Sydney Sixers allrounder Sean Abbott, who last month was linked to at least two IPL franchises.

Kings Punjab XI and Rajasthan Royals are again expected to field the biggest Aussie contingent; Kings XI retained four Australians from last year's tournament - George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Marsh - while the Royals have Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Steven Smith, Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson in their squad.

Cricket.com.au will cover the 2015 Indian Premier League like never before with all the latest news, match highlights and live scores for all 60 matches.

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The Knight Riders will open their title defence on April 8