INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Royal Challengers Bangalore, like Deccan Chargers, had ended up at the bottom of the table in the inaugural edition of IPL. Both teams ended up meeting in the final of IPL 2009 in South Africa. Anil Kumble-led RCB with great heart, but was unable to win the title. Kumble's most impressive virtues as a cricketer - grit and determination - came to the fore in South Africa. The side lost four of their first five matches in IPL 2009, but made a startling comeback to make it to the semi-finals.

The team qualified for the CLT20 but could not qualify for the knock-out stage. The team has undergone a sea-change in terms of personnel and support staff from Season 2008 with new coach Ray Jennings making a huge impact. Former captain Kevin Pietersen's participation is still debatable owing to an extended injury break. Their only buy at the 2010 auction was Englishman Eoin Morgan, but they also have in their ranks India's under-19 captain Ashok Menaria while Nathan Bracken has been bought out.

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 Daredevils. 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 Mohd. Ashraful have been bought out. At the 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.

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.