New Delhi: With the Bombay High Court giving a go ahead signal to the first match of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) on April 9 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.


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Ahead of the all-important season opener, MI head coach Ricky Ponting hailed team captain Rohit Sharma as one the best batsman in the world.


The legendary Australian also mentioned Rohit's influence in the team, which has helped the Mumbai-based franchise lift the trophy twice.


The former Aussie captain then picked up Jos Buttler's performance for England in the recently concluded ICC World Twenty20 as one of the highlights of MI players.


He also has words of praise for Indian youngsters Pandya brothers -- Hardik and Krunal, and Jasprit Bumrah. Both Hardik and Jasprit have become regular members of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-lead India sides.