The seventh season of the Indian Premier League, IPL-7 will kick start in Abu Dhabi today. Defending Champions Mumbai Indians take on former champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match at Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The BCCI-IPL Interim President Sunil Gavaskar has said that the sanctity of the game of cricket will be maintained during the IPL Season-7 and quality cricket will be on display.He was speaking at the gala dinner ceremony at the Emirates Palace in the UAE capital a day ahead of the start of the IPL season in Abu Dhabi. Eight teams are participating in the tournament and 20 games will be held between April 16-30 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Our West Asia correspondent reports that despite the controversies, IPL fever has gripped cricket fans in the UAE. Most of the tickets for big games have been sold off. UAE has a large expatriate community who want to see their favorite players live in action. Big names from Indian cricket have not played in this part of the world for over nearly a decade. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, M.S.Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ashwin are hot favorites. Speedsters like Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn and Lasith Malinga will be firing on all cylinders. The spinning guile of Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Sunil Narain and Samuel Badree is eagerly awaited. Shane Watson, Kevin Pieterson, Brendon McCallum and Yuvraj Singh are among those to be watched out for. With good pitches, favorable weather and a supporting crowd, exciting cricket is round the corner.