INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
16 April 2014 - 1 June 2014
The IPL couldn't have come at a better time, just weeks after the conclusion of the World T20. While the cricketers are still buzzing from it.
Harbhajan Singh, Chris Gayle & Adam Gilchrist did the gangnam style last season. Apparently Chris Gayle and Yuvraj Singh will do the gangnam dance together this season - I cannot wait for that.
TEAMS
Chennai Super Kings
Delhi Daredevils
Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata Knight Riders
Mumbai Indians
Rajasthan Royals
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sunrisers Hyderabad
TOP AUCTIONS
Yuvraj Singh was the highest purchase for Rs. 14 crore, purchased by the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Dinesh Karthik was not far behind going for Rs. 12.5 crore and purchased by the Dehli Daredevils.
Kevin Pietersen, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Jacques Kallis, David Warner and Robin Uthappa were purchased between Rs. 10 crore and Rs. 5.5 crore.
(Crore: a unit of value equal to ten million rupees or 100 lakhs)
PROTEAS IN THE IPL
Faf du Plessis - Chennai Super Kings
Quinton de Kock - Dehli Daredevils
JP Duminy - Dehli Daredevils
Wayne Parnell - Dehli Daredevils
Jacques Kallis - Kolkata Knight Riders
Morne Morkel - Kolkata Knight Riders
David Miller - King’s XI Punjab
Beuran Hendricks - King’s XI Punjab
Marchant de Lange - Mumbai Indians
Albie Morkel - Royal Challengers Bangalore
AB de Villiers - Royal Challengers Bangalore
Dale Steyn - Sunrisers Hyderabad
Du Plessis, Duminy, Parnell, de Villiers and Steyn have been in impeccable form, with the World T20 as a witness. However, de Kock, the Morkel brothers, Miller and Hendricks were not hitting the right notes, but they are getting there. The inclusion of de Lange is quite questionable due to his injury record. He hasn't played much cricket because of his long list of injuries.
Other South Africans involved in the IPL are the Proteas’ team director Paddy Upton who coaches the Rajasthan Royals, bowling coach Allan Donald who will be the bowling coach for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Jonty Rhodes will be the Mumbai Indians' fielding coach.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2014 - TO BE CONFIRMED
2013 - Mumbai Indians
2012 - Kolkata Knight Riders
2011 - Chennai Super Kings
2010 - Chennai Super Kings
2009 - Deccan Chargers
2008 - Rajastan Royals
The Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL twice, consecutively. Maybe this could be the year they bag their 3rd IPL trophy. With the likes of Dhoni, B McCullum, R Ashwin, Raina and many others, there's nothing stopping them.
The Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajastan Royals could join the Chennai Super Kings by recording their second IPL title.
It will be more challenging for teams like the Dehli Daredevils, King's XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad because they could win their first IPL trophy this year.
IPL BOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES
Preity Zinta
Shahrukh Khan
Shilpa Shetty
Maybe there are more bollywood stars who have invested in IPL teams, but these are the prominent 3.
Apparently other bollywood stars like Salman Khan, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan have been enquiring about having a stake in the IPL. Maybe they're seeing how much fun stars like Zinta, Khan and Shetty are having and maybe the revenue is sky high too.
