IPL in the UAE: Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai enjoying the sights of the Emirates

With excitement among cricket fans reaching fever pitch ahead of the Indian Premier League's big kick-off on Wednesday, players and officials have been enjoying the UAE's sights and sounds in recent days.

Reigning champions Mumbai Indians open proceedings at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi when they tackle 2012 winners Kolkata Knight Riders.

The clash will be one of 20 matches in total to be played in the UAE over the next fortnight before the tournament returns home to India for its climax.

Demand for tickets for the tournament's seventh edition has exceeded all expectations in the UAE with over 100,000 briefs sold already including the 20,000 that were snapped up within the first HOUR of going on sale.

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The participating teams are also enjoying their surroundings as many of them have got to work in the past few days as they step up their preparations for the tournament.

Kolkata have certainly been making the most of what the Emirates have to offer with the squad enjoying the Ferrari World theme park in the capital on Monday.

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram says Kolkata are "looking good" ahead of their opening match against Mumbai while skipper Gautam Gambhir is relishing the prospect of playing in the UAE.

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Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore were one of the first teams to arrive and had plenty of fun on their journey to the UAE judging by this video:

Bangalore boast an enviable batting line-up including arguably the most destructive man in T20 cricket Chris Gayle as well as the recent star of the World T20 in Bangladesh, India's Virat Kohli.

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If that wasn't daunting enough, they can also call upon the spin king himself Mutthiah Muralitharan who will be hoping to conjure up his magic on the pitches of the UAE.

The players have also been enjoying themselves away from bet practice as well. It is Dubai after all!

Elsewhere, Delhi Daredevils, skippered by jettisoned England star Kevin Pieterson, are in good spirits ahead of their opener against Bangalore in Sharjah on Thursday.

Chennai Super Kings have also been getting acquint with their new surroundings, including skipper MS Dhoni, who will be hoping to make up for the disappointing of lndia's loss to Sri Lanka in the World T20 final.

Defending champions Mumbai have been buoyed by the news that India legend Sachin Tendulkar has joined them on their UAE leg as a mentor following his retirement last year.

Tendulkar brought the curtain down on his record-breaking career after India's Test series victory against West Indies last November and will act as cheerleader for his former side.

Lasith Malinga, fresh from captaining Sri Lanka to World T20 glory, will undoubtedly be one of Mumbai's key men especially on Abu Dhabi's lively pitch.

The paceman relishes the shorter format of the game and is sure to be one of the tournament's leading wicket takers. And here's why:

Sunrisers Hyderabad, who boast the likes of Dale Steyn, David Warner and Darren Sammy, have also arrived in the UAE. They kick-off their campaign against Rajasthan Royals in the second of Friday's double-header in Abu Dhabi.

RELATED: Full schedule of UAE's 20 IPL matches

Aside from the big-hitting action on the field, the IPL has also been plagued with its fair share of controversy over the past six years as we look back upon here: