The eighth edition of the highly-anticipated Karnataka Premier League-2019 gets underway here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium later in the day, with Mysuru Warriors taking on Bengaluru Blasters in what promises to be an explosive opening encounter.

The KSCA marquee T20 event will see the State’s most talented youngsters rub shoulders with their more senior pros as they vie for the coveted trophy and prize money of Rs. 10 lakh over the next 16 days.

The KPL will begin with an opening ceremony, before the first match, and will conclude with the grand finale in Mysuru on Aug. 31.

The Mysuru Warriors, led by Amit Verma, aren’t much more seasoned as a side, but they have plenty of players who have been part of the grind for longer duration.

Aniruddha Joshi, for instance, is one of the finest exponents of batting in the shortest format and he has the numbers for Karnataka to back him up. His domestic conquests have even taken him so far as the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

If the second-highest grosser in the auction, with a bid of Rs 7.1 lakh isn’t enough, there is J. Suchith, a regular with the Karnataka Ranji side and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, to bolster the squad. Amit also has D. Nischal’s resilient batsmanship to bank on when needed.

On the other hand, R. Jonathan will lead the Bengaluru Blasters as they attempt to claim their first title since being rechristened. The team, formerly called Bangalore Brigadiers, has plenty of young talent in its ranks, with V. Koushik, Rohan Kadam and Nikin Jose headlining their act.

Jonathan has plenty to ponder over, and with rain being a cause for concern this time of the year, he has another factor to consider before setting foot on the field for what could be a life-altering season for some and a great platform for others.