IPL- 3

About Deccan Chargers

The team with the best combination of big-hitters came a cropper in the first edition of DLF-IPL. The team had the stars but did not have the bowling to back it up. Finally the skipper VVS Laxman dropped out due to an injury and the team struggled without any direction. There was no direction, but the season ended with a hope for the Chargers. They have now brought in a new captain in Adam Gilchrist, changed the backroom staff with new coach Darren Lehmann. But the lack of firepower in the bowling is what hurts them most, especially when it comes to pitches in South Africa. Can Gilly influence a turnaround or will normal service be restored for the Deccan Chargers?
Captain-coach combination: Darren Lehmann is a first-time coach and will team up with new captain Adam Gilchrist.So it is starting all over again for Deccan Chargers, so it might be a long haul for the duo.
Last year's record: Matches: 14, Won: 2, Lost: 12
About Chennai Super Kings What's a complete team? Well, here it is. Good clean strikers of the ball, an imaginative skipper, good crop of Indian players, a magical spinner and one of the best all-rounder in world, come together to dish out a fare. Latest acquisition: The best in the world? Okay, one of the best, Andrew Flintoff joins the ranks. One of the top grossers at the DLF-IPL2, Flintoff will be keenly watched in the two weeks that he will be in action during the tournament. His X-factor along with Murali's spin magic will surely lift the Chennai Super Kings Last year's record: Runner's up, League stage Played: 14, Won: 8, Lost: 6

About Delhi Daredevils

Dangerous side with plenty of flair, that's what Delhi Daredevils is all about. A steady bowling attack backed up by deadly strikers at the top, makes it a team to look out for. Coupled with the experience of Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori, you have a heady cocktail. But their exuberance could prove to be their downfall like last season. Watch out for the Sehwag-Gambhir jugalbandi followed by some daredevilry from David Warner
Goa Acquisition: Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah form the heart of England's T20 squads. They can change their game according to formats and so expect them to come to the party this time. Collingwood's medium pacers will give an added bow to the Durham man, because Shah may struggle to feature in the first XI.
Captain-coach combination: Virender Sehwag can be imaginative as skipper, has a shrewd cricketing brain. This clear-headed cricketer almost led his side all the way to the crown last season. Unfortunately, the team misfired at the big stage. The coach Kepler Wessels is from the South Africa stable of unlikely men behind the scenes. Kepler can be innovative and come up with unlikely ideas to throw rivals off-guard.

About Kolkata Knight Riders

The team with the biggest blockbuster movie star as its owner, lived upto his image last year. They began on a bang, but could not sustain any further period, they simply frittered away it all to struggle in the last phase of DLF-IPL1. Of all the teams, they flattered to deceive. But now comes the big opportunity to set the record straight. But even before a ball is bowled the Knight Riders have a problem. Coach John Buchanan wants four-man captaincy team and wants it to be rotated forcing the iconic Sourav Ganguly to sulk. Will this feud eat up Knight Riders? Wait and watch
Captain-Coach combination: India's most successful captain with a maverick image on and off the field combines with one of cricket's most successful coaches for the most unlikely combo.
Last year's record: Played 14, Won: 6, Lost: 7, N/R: 1

About Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab is part of the eight competing teams promoted by the DLF Indian Premier League. It is held and promoted by a consortium which includes, Industrialists Mohit Burman, Karan Paul, Ness Wadia and leading Indian actor Preity Zinta. The team is led by Yuvraj Singh, who is also the icon player & captain. At the helm is Coach Tom Moody. The team is a heady mix of leading national and international players like Brett Lee, James Hopes, Shaun Marsh, Luke Pomersbach, Simon Katich, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Burt Cockley, Ravi Bopara, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, R Powar, V.R.V. Singh, P. Chawla, Karan Goel, Uday Kaul, Wilkin Mota, Ajitesh Argal, Tanmay Srivastava, Sunny Sohal, Ryan Ninan, Ravikant Shukla, Ranadeb Bose, Vikramjeet Malik, Taruwar Kohli and Amanpreet Singh.

About Mumbai Indians

It was a low-key team with most injuries and controversies in DLF-IPL1. But now the team looks settled, the skipper's back with a new staff and some key replenishments. The strength of the side still lies in the top-order, but a few new strikers, plus Sri Lanka's fit slinger Lasith Malinga could provide the best hope for Mumbai Indians in DLF-IPL2.
Captain-coach combination: When Sachin Tendulkar is the captain, he is very much in charge. So the role of Shaun Pollock has been re-defined a bit. He becomes the chief mentor and along with fielding coach Jonty Rhodes expect him to turn things around for Mumbai Indians. If Tendulkar needs more help about South African conditions, then he has a former pro in those parts, Praveen Amre to look after the nitty grit-ties.
Star player: Sachin Tendulkar.
Last year's record: Played 14, Won 7, Lost 7

About Rajasthan Royals

Last season even before a ball was bowled this side was written off as a bunch of no-hopers. But how the tables were turned was seen by the whole world. This time key all-rounder Shane Watson is unlikely with an injury and some of the other performers like Sohail Tanveer are out of the frame. But expect Shane Warne to come up with a new plan to surprise his rivals.
Latest Acquisition: One of the high-profile buys for Rajasthan Royals is the thunderbolt paceman Shaun Tait. The young express bowler is fighting self-doubts and exile to come back on the big stage. Warne's backing could well prove to be decisive X factor this time.
Captain-coach combination: Well the boss of this team is one and only Shane Warne. The spin magician casts a spell around his team and manages to eke out the best out of everybody. Last year he singlehandedly inspired his side to the title. His little-known players managed to raise their performance level and take it to a new high. In the background his old friend, Darren Berry does all the research on the rivals, while Warne plots the moves.
Last year's results: Played: 14, Won: 11, Lost: 3. Champions
Fitness barometer: The presence of a plethora of young Indian cricketers presents a whole new version of the country. These bunch of youngsters are talented, athletic and above all keen to follow their captain.

About Royal Challengers Bangalore

DLF-IPL1 was all about this team being called a Test line-up. The world's best batsmen albeit in the longer format got together to form the core. But unfortunately the team crashed out resulting in a few heads rolling. A new brand new back-up team coupled with a new administration. Will the arrival of KP, Ryder and Robin Uthappa help Royal Challengers Bangalore, turn a new page? Will the Royal Challengers Bangalore undergo a image makeover? Answers just days away...
Latest acquisition: England's most colourful cricketer, Kevin Pietersen, was always going to be the star attraction at DLF-IPL2. So even if it meant pitching in the highest bid, Vijay Mallya was prepared for it. So in came KP as also another rising star from New Zealand, Jesse Ryder.
What you need to know about Bangalore: Bangalore's most priced possessions are its gardens. The former princely state of Mysore is the pride of the state, but it provides the old royal touch to the state of Karnataka and in particular to Bangalore. Bangalore has produced some of the greatest Indian cricketers like GR Viswanath, BS Chandrashekar, EAS Prasanna, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Rahul Dravid.
Fitness barometer: With the infusion of the likes of KP, Ryder and even Robin Uthappa the fitness levels are bound to shoot up. Coach Ray Jennings is known to be a hard taskmaster when it comes to fitness, so expect some tough talking from the former wicket-keeper.

About Chennai Super Kings

What's a complete team? Well, here it is. Good clean strikers of the ball, an imaginative skipper, good crop of Indian players, a magical spinner and one of the best all-rounder in world, come together to dish out a fare.
Latest acquisition: The best in the world? Okay, one of the best, Andrew Flintoff joins the ranks. One of the top grossers at the DLF-IPL2, Flintoff will be keenly watched in the two weeks that he will be in action during the tournament. His X-factor along with Murali's spin magic will surely lift the Chennai Super Kings
Last year's record: Runner's up, League stage Played: 14, Won: 8, Lost: 6