The team from India's princely state didn't quite command the kind of respect and interest that befits royalty. So when the Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, swept the opposition away and took home the first-ever IPL title, everyone was surprised. Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson were the other big names that powered the side, but it was players like Swapnil Asnodkar and Ravindra Jadeja that shone. IPL 2009 got underway with Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty and her then fiance Raj Kundra also joining the franchise as co-owners. Kaif was left out and Watson was unavailable. Tyron Henderson, who was roped in after a tug-of-war with KXIP, played just one game. Yusuf Pathan starred in a win over KKR in the only Super Over of the tournament. At the 2010 auction, Rajasthan bought two Australian players - Adam Voges and in a surprise move, the out of action Damien Martyn. The team had bought out Tyron Henderson, Robert Quiney and Mohd Kaif prior to the auction.
Sachin Tendulkar was named captain and icon player of Mumbai Indians, the highest-priced side, owned by the Reliance Group of Companies, ahead of the inaugural IPL. The team had some turbo-charged players like Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock, Harbhajan and Malinga. The side, however, failed to deliver on its promise in the inaugural competition, despite some memorable performances like that of the young all-rounder Abhishek Nayar. The second season opened with two new names for the side - Zaheer Khan, who was brought in from RCB, and batsman Shikhar Dhawan from Delhi. JP Duminy, the South African powerhouse, was roped in, fresh from his success in Australia. But the side could not quite make it even this time round, bowing out of the competition before the semis. Kyle Mills and Ashraful have been bought out. At 2010 auction, they bagged the biggest player of them all Kieron Pollard at USD 750,000 after winning the silent tie-breaker. Harshal Patel from the U-19 side has also found a place in the side.
Kings XI Punjab have an aura of glamour and verve around them thanks to owners Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia. They boast the services of the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh and dependable Sangakkara; the destructive Irfan Pathan and experienced Jayawardene. So when the first edition of the IPL kicked off, the team from India's lion-hearted state were looked on with awe and admiration. But the side could not progress beyond the semi-final stage. In 2009, the spectacular South African setting did little to embellish the team's chances - they bowed out before the semis, depleted by the absence of Brett Lee and Sreesanth at various stages. Left-arm paceman Yusuf Abdulla was one of the finds of the tournament and he has been retained for the third edition. Luke Pomersbach and Nuwan Kulasekara were bought our ahead of the 2010 auction while they picked former India batsman Mohammed Kaif who is expected to recreate the magic with Yuvraj Singh in the Punjab side under new captain Kumar Sangakkara.
Delhi Daredevils, owned by GMR Industries, have a number of genuine match-winners in their squad. They boast of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order while wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik beefs up the middle-order. Tillakaratne Dilshan, along with AB de Villiers, have been a revelation in this format. Veterans Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori add depth to the squad. This helped the Daredevils make the semis in the first season. In the second season, they rode high on the strength of Dirk Nannes' pace, topped the league, but again, lost in the semis. The squad made it to the Champions League Twenty20,
but only flattered to deceive. The Daredevils are now being led by Gambhir, after
Sehwag’s decision to step down. 2010 could well be their big comeback.
Chennai Super Kings, owned by India Cements, managed to get the prized services of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the inaugural edition of IPL. Quite understandably, the Indian captain commanded the highest price at the player auctions - a whopping USD 1.5 million. Australia's batting tour de force Matthew Hayden was roped in to give the batting a destructive edge - and he played his role to perfection in two successive seasons.
Stephen Fleming, who doubled as coach in the second season; the wily Muralidaran; batsman Suresh Raina; and all-rounder Albie Morkel helped Chennai reach the final. When the second round of auctions took place, Andrew Flintoff joined as one of the highest-paid players. In 2009, Hayden scored prolifically while his team entered the semi-final, only to be pipped at the post by RCB. Fleming has now been bought out by the side and is just the coach. At the 2010 auction, the team bought South African Justin Kemp, they also brought in Sri Lankan Thisara Perera for a sum of USD 50,000.
When Shahrukh Khan - India's biggest movie star - co-purchased the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, the nation couldn't help but feel an affinity with the side. And when Brendon McCullum stormed into the competition with a whirlwind 158*, it drew a collective gasp of admiration from fans of the sport across the world. If Sourav helmed the side, then there was John Buchanan who powered the think-tank. But the team could not live up to expectations.In the second season, suggestions of a multiple-captain approach drew a lot of debate but as it turned out, McCullum ended up leading the side throughout. But the side's prospects did not improve. KKR ended the tournament pretty close to the bottom of the table. Ricky Ponting and Morne van Wyk have been bought out ahead of Season 2010, while Shane Bond has been bought at USD 750,000. U-19 player Harpreet Singh has also been picked for the tournament.
