The world of cricket was given a major shake-up when many players become mega-rich overnight after the Indian Premier League tournament was introduced for the first time last year.

The IPL is now heading into its second series with the 2009 tournament starting in South Africa on Saturday.

BANGALORE

Royal Challengers

Team Salary: US$111 million

Marquee player: Kevin Pietersen

Other key players: Nathan Bracken, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis

Kiwis: Ross Taylor, Jesse RyderCoach: Ray Jennings (South Africa)

Last year: 7th

TAB odds: $6

The lowdown: The Royal Challengers finished a disappointing second last during the 2008 tournament but don’t expect a similar result this year. Any team with the world’s best limited-overs bowler Nathan Bracken should be respected.

But added to that they have a solid batting unit headlined by English star Kevin Pietersen.

For New Zealand cricket followers there is also the added interest of watching two of our premier batsmen in Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder trying to shine on the world stage.

Predicted finish: 2009 IPL winners

Kolkata Knight Riders

Team salary: US$75.09m

Marque player: Sourav Ganguly

Other key players: Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Ishant Sharma

Kiwis: Brendon McCullum

Coach: John Buchanan (Australia)

Last year: 6th

TAB odds: $6

The lowdown: This team will be worth watching for its dynamic opening batting partnership alone. What McCullum and West Indies captain Chris Gayle could do to opposition bowling attacks is likely to be mindblowing.

If the Knight Riders are to better their sixth-place effort last year they will need good performances from those two players.

McCullum set the competition alight last year when he scored an unbeaten 158 from 73 balls against the Bangalore side.

Predicted finish: 2009 IPL runners-up

Chennai Super Kings

Team salary: US$91m Marquee player: MS Dhoni

Other key players: Albie Morkel, Muttiah Muralitharan, Andrew Flintoff

Kiwis: Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram

Coach: Stephen Fleming (New Zealand)

Last year: 3rd

TAB odds: $6.50

The lowdown: The Super Kings have two of the best all-rounders in the world in Albie Morkel and Andrew Flintoff and expect Morkel to dominate in his home country.

On top of that they have the world’s premier spinner Muttiah Muralitharan so bowling shouldn’t be a problem for the Chennai side.

Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden, MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming will need to step up with the bat if the Super Kings are to get up.

Predicted finish: 3rd

Mumbai Indians

Team Salary: $111m

Marquee player: Sachin Tendulkar

Other key players: JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh

Kiwis: Kyle Mills.Coach: Shaun Pollock (South Africa)

Last year: 5thTAB odds: $7

The lowdown: Sachin Tendulkar is Mumbai’s marquee player but if the Indians are to impress in the 2009 tournament it might come from a startling display or two from JP Duminy.

Duminy was South Africa’s find of the summer when they toured Australia recently.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh will headline Mumbai’s bowling attack.

New Zealanders will monitor the progress of paceman Kyle Mills as well as Graham Napier.

Napier is an Englishman but played for Wellington during the 2008-09 domestic season.

Predicted finish: 4th

Delhi Daredevils

Team salary: $84m

Marque player: Virender Sehwag

Other key players: David Warner, AB de Villers, Gaitim Gambir.

Kiwis: Daniel Vettori

Coach: Greg Shipperd (Australia)

Last year: 4th

TAB odds: $6The lowdown: Any team that possesses one of the world’s best in Virender Sehwag has the ability to tip over anyone.

If the hard-hitting Indian batsman has a good tournament the Daredevils would have to rate themselves a chance.

In the bowling department a lot will centre around New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori.

If veteran Glenn McGrath still has what it takes to foot it with the best the Australian legend also will be a useful asset with the ball.

Predicted finish: 5th

Deccan Chargers

Team salary: $107m

Marquee player: Andrew Symonds

Other key players: Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Chamina Vaas

Kiwis: Scott Styris

Coach: Darren Lehman (Australia)

Last year: last

TAB odds: $9

The lowdown: The Chargers last year picked up the wooden spoon and while its hard to see the Darren Lehman-coached side reversing it and winning the tournament they could still push teams in 2009.

A lot will depend on if Australian great Adam Gilchrist can still dominate and what headspace marquee player Andrew Symonds is in.

A strong IPL tournament could be the ideal way for Scott Styris to wave his name in front of the New Zealand selectors heading into the twenty20 World Cup in June.

Predicted finish: 6th

Kings 11 Punjab

Team salary: $76m

Marquee player: Yuvraj SinghOther key players: Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Ramnaresh Sarwan

Kiwis: None

Coach: Tom Moody (Australia)

Last year: IPL runners-up

TAB odds: $7

The lowdown: Kings 11 Punjab have a touch of batting power in the form of Yuvraj Singh, Kumar Sangakkara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Mehela Jayawardene and Shaun Marsh. They haven’t, however, got the same firepower with the ball. A lot will depend on Brett Lee getting it right if they are to restrict teams.

Predicted finish: 7th

Rajasthan Royals

Team salary: US$61m

Marquee player: Mohammad Kaif

Other key players: Shane Warne, Graeme Smith, Dimitri Mascarenas

Kiwis: NoneCoach: Shane Warne (Australia)

Last year: IPL winners

TAB odds: $8

The lowdown: Predicting a team to go from competition winners to wooden spooners is a bold one but on paper the Royals shouldn’t foot it with some of the other teams.

At $61m they have spent the least on recruiting players although they did carry that same tag when they won the tournament last year.

Graeme Smith will need to prosper with the bat and player-coach Shane Warne needs to spin some magic with the ball for the Royals to have any chance of defending their title.

While no New Zealand players have been picked up by the Rajasthan organisation there will be interest in how Englishman Dimitri Mascarenas performs.

Mascarenas played for Otago this year in its State Shield limited-overs campaign.

IPL FACTS

The tournament starts on Saturday and will run through to May 24. Sky TV will carry live coverage of the tournament for New Zealanders. The IPL is being held in South Africa because security cannot be guaranteed in India during that country’s general elections. Eight New Zealanders will take part in the 2009 IPL tournament, with Jesse Ryder picking up a contract for the first time. IPL team owners range from infrastructure and private equity firms to film stars. IPL has contracted the world’s top 77 cricketers, according to ICC rankings. MS Dhoni and Andrew Symonds fetched the highest prices in IPL bidding with $1.5 million and $1.35 million respectively.
Source – stuff.co.nz